Malena is the most ravishing and irresistible beauty in Castelcuto. Renato Amoroso, is an imaginative 13-year old who takes his desire for Malena to unexpected heights of obsessive fantasy. Fueled by his dreams of cinematic romance, Renato Amoroso becomes Malena’s secret shadow, a spy of love following closely her every sensuous move.

Malena becomes a young widow, and then becomes the dangerous object of the town’s pent-up lust, jealousy and anger – the very eye of an emotional, erotic storm that sweeps across Castelcuto until she is dragged down, disowned by her father, thrust into court, cut off from a livelihood and left penniless. When all seems lost, Renato finds the courage to act, to help Malena in the most unexpected of ways.