Tides of Change

The nobleman Franco Maironi is sailing over Lake Lugano together with his beloved Luisa. Luisa is from a bourgeois family and therefore marrying her would mean going outside his social class. But this is be no problem for the courageous young Italian patriot. After all, he's not afraid to openly express his political views in the house of his strict grandmother Orsola. And she's not at all happy about his views. His grandmother is a passionate supporter of the Austrian authorities and is a good friend of several influential Austrian officers. But now Franco has forgotten all the political arguments at home. He can think only of Luisa and confesses his love for her. But then the two lovers are startled by the sound of shots coming from nearby. Franco sees a man who is being pursued by the police take shelter in some underbrush. He gets hit by a bullet! Franco suspects that this must an Italian patriot fleeing from the Austrian police. So Franco helps the injured man (Rampelli) and hides him, first in the house of his grandmother and then in Luisa's house where it is safer. In the meantime Orsola has big plans for her grandson Franco. She wants to make a match for him with the young noblewoman Carolina and gives a ball where they are to meet. But even when dancing with Carolina, Franco can think only of Luisa. He does notice, however, that his grandmother seems to be constantly talking to an Austrian officer named Greisberg. Concerned for the safety of Rampelli, Franco just leaves Carolina standing there alone in the middle of the dance floor and dashes off to Luisa... After he once again helps Rampelli to flee, Franco decides to marry Luisa that very night. His grandmother will never be able to split them up now! They are married secretly at night in a little church and the only guests are Teresa (Luisa's mother), her uncle Piero and Professor Gilardoni. Newly married, Franco and Luisa visit his intimidating grandmother the next morning. She's thunderstruck by this awful news and immediately disinherits Franco. She even threatens to make it impossible to ever get employment in their region.... Luisa's uncle Piero, however, is willing to help the young couple. He lets them live in his house and supports them until Franco can find work... In the meantime Professor Gilardoni has brought important news for Franco: His grandmother had suppressed the will of Franco's father, but the professor has managed to get a copy. Franco is the main heir! But instead of being overjoyed at his sudden wealth, Franco refuses to accept the inheritance because all of the money came from the hated Austrians. Without considering the consequences for himself and Luisa, he demands that Gilardoni destroy the will... The young couple enjoys furnishing their pretty little room in her uncle's house. But what makes Franco happiest of all is the fact that Luisa is pregnant. But when a few months later Rampelli is arrested, Orsola finally sees an opportunity to create big trouble for her hated daughter-in-law. She suggest to the police that they interrogate Luisa. But before her guilt can be proved Greisberg intervenes. Although he knows perfectly well that Luisa and Franco had hidden Rampelli from the police, he doesn't want to make their difficult situation even worse... A few days after the birth of his little daughter Maria, Franco and some of his friends attempt to liberate Rampelli. But they arrive too late: Rampelli has already died from his wounds. After a wild shoot-out Franco manages to escape, but with a bullet wound... And again it is the officer Greisberg who saves the young couple from disaster. He gives Franco his freedom... Then Uncle Piero surprises the family with terrible news: He's lost his job because the police found revolutionary pamphlets in his house. Now Franco will have to support his family all by himself and find work despite the intrigues of his grandmother. The Maironi family lives in bitter poverty. Their only source of income is