The Wide Blue Road' is a moving drama based on the novel of Franco Solinas, telling the story of impoverished fishermen in Sicily. Squarcio (Yves Montand) makes a better living than the other men in the village (who obey the law and fish with nets) by using dangerous homemade bombs. The men tolerate his breaking the rules because he fishes far from the village. But the new coast guard captain is determined to catch him. Though Squarcio is committed to providing a better life for his wife, Rosetta (Alida Valli), and their children, he refuses to join a new cooperative that allows the fishermen to set a fair price for their fish. Squarcio insists on standing apart.