Squarciò, a fisherman, lives with his family on a small island off the Dalmatian coast of Italy. Like his fellow villagers, Squarciò struggles against harsh living conditions, a scarcity of fish in nearby waters and exploitation by the local wholesaler. But while the other fishermen continue to use nets, he goes out to the open sea to fish illegally with bombs. But Squarciò borrows money, loses his boat, and in a moment of supreme desperation, has to bomb directly off-shore, causing the hatred and rejection of his fellow fishermen. Trying to save his family, Squarciò and his young sons sail their new boat out beyond the local waters and bomb-fish again. But this time, the sea exacts a terrible toll…

Yves Montand
as Giovanni Squarciò

Alida Valli
as Rosetta, the Wife

Francisco Rabal
as Salvatore

Peter Carsten
as Riva, 2nd Coast Guard Officer

Federica Ranchi
as Diana Squarciò, the Daughter

Terence Hill
as Renato

Josip Batistić
as

Stane Potokar
as

Angelo Zanolli
as

Janez Vrhovec
as