Unknown dots on a map come to life in this inspiring tale set in central southern Italy. An old man's quest to uncover his roots takes him and his son to the birthplaces of his Italian grandparents. What starts as a genealogy tour turns into an extraordinary adventure.
Embraced by living descendants of their ancestry, they hear touching stories and feast at their table. In his grandmother’s village, the inspirational mayor reveals the village's captivating history: the incredible defiance and courage of Monteleone’s women against oppression during the Spanish Inquisition and the Fascist regime in World War II; the anguish of emigration of the late 1800s; the village’s transformation as a haven for asylum seekers; and its modern-day rebirth as a village of acceptance, non-violence and peace advocacy, all told through a fantasy legend of its guardian lioness.
The journey ignites a creative fire in the old man, who embarks on an ambitious project to tell the story of Monteleone di Puglia through a graphic novella, lyrical songs and music, and a carved marble lioness sculpture. Overflowing with joy and gratitude, he extends a heartfelt message to all children of immigrants to seek out their roots.