The novel tells the story of three young reporters — Misha, Nicola and Ali — who attempt to rebuild their lives and careers by making documentaries about the future of Italy after being destroyed by a case of shaming. Against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic landscape riven by violence and fanaticism, the protagonists embark on a journey along State Road 45, encountering self-sufficient communities that have emerged in the wake of epidemics and social upheaval. Through their encounters with misogynistic men, women devoted to self-flagellation and mysterious healers, the novel explores themes of isolation, pain and redemption in a world where the end of civilisation seems to be the new normal. Bellocchio's caustic and expressive writing immerses the reader in a disturbing yet tragicomic universe.