In 1930s Italy, Guido a carefree Jewish book keeper, lives in the Tuscan town of Arezzo. He falls in love with Dora, the local schoolteacher. Dora hesitates, she likes Guido and his imaginative way of courting her but nonetheless she remains faithful to her pompous financé. Guido with the help of his uncle kidnapps her on the occasion of her engagement. The two marry, raise a a boy, Giusoe, and spent a few happy years until the occupation of Italy by German forces. Growing anti-Semitic attitudes start to rise and eventually Guido and his family are send to an concentration camp. In order to protect his little boy from the horror of the death camp he makes him believe that they are part of competition with a tank as the grand prize. No matter what hardship they have to endure - from food shortages, the separation from Dora or being tattooed – Guido insists that it is all part of the game and only those who strictly obey the rules will eventually be rewarded.