The man in the story is named Angelo, and he is played by the Italian actor Marcello Mastroianni. After spending many years in New York City, Angelo returns to his hometown in Sicily to visit his aging mother and reconnect with his roots.
Throughout the film, Angelo has conversations with various people that he encounters, including an orange picker named Ciccio, who teaches him about the importance of tradition and community in Sicilian life. Angelo also meets a group of boisterous and opinionated train passengers, who provide him with an introduction to the colorful characters and customs of his homeland.
As Angelo reconnects with his mother and his childhood home, he begins to reassess his priorities and the way he has been living his life in America. He also becomes intrigued by a beautiful young woman named Mara, who works as a knife-sharpener and seems to embody the passion and sensuality of Sicilian culture.
The film's director, Alberto Lattuada, depicts the Sicilian landscape and way of life with a vividness and authenticity that bring the story to life. Sicily! is both a celebration of Sicilian culture and a meditation on the challenges of reconciling one's past and present in a rapidly changing world.