Nicolae Anghel (Nelu) remains without mother at the age of five. His father, a drunker, depraved and troublesome man, neglects him to the level where the boy"s live is endangered. Dressed and fed poorly with clothing and food gained through the pity of neighbors, he hopes the impossible: another piece of bread that could keep him alive. Some relatives decide to adopt him, but they turn to be drunkards who abuse him and lead a scandalous life. At the age of 13 he"s forced to leave his adoptive relatives. He tries to sustain himself by offering to work as an adult and he isn"t spared of days of cruel hunger and nights of sleeping in bushes or corners of old buildings. When his financial situation allows him, he puts himself through school. He becomes a civil engineer but his life is afflicted by a vicious passion. He has a strong attraction to women to whom he becomes infidel as quickly as the next beautiful lady appears on his horizon. The infidelity of the woman he really loves makes him realize who he is and understand that his life must take a new direction.