Soon after the start of hostilities in Iraq, Rome-based lovestruck poet and lecturer Attilio (Roberto Benigni) heads to Baghdad when he learns from his friend, Iraqi poet Fuad (Jean Reno), that the woman he loves, Vittoria (Nicoletta Braschi), has been critically injured in a bomb explosion. Attilio does everything in his power to save her, risking his own life amongst falling masonry, exploding bombs, confrontation on every side by horrors and disasters of war, road-blocks, mine-fields, and looters. When he is not dashing off in search of medicine and supplies, he spends every minute of the day and night taking tender care of his beloved - who is unaware of all he is doing for her, since she remains unconscious. At the moment Vittoria at last opens her eyes again, Attilio is no longer with her; he has been captured by American troops, his presence having been betrayed by the endless ringing of his cell-phone. Vittoria who has no idea that she was saved by her bizarre, poetry- scribbling suitor, but will Attilio will ever tell her?