The protagonist of the story, Professor Filippo Bottini, is a traditional teacher who teaches in a school in Rome. He longs for a 'Cuore' style school, but clashes with the reality of modern teaching and the tumultuous events of the 1970s, including strikes, occupations, and armed students. He also clashes with feminist colleagues.
Due to the events surrounding him, Professor Bottini becomes increasingly involved in the post-Sixties protest and movements. This leads him to take extreme actions, including becoming a drug courier.
However, his illicit activity leads to his arrest and subsequent imprisonment. Fortunately, a colleague named Lalla, with whom he had embarked on a love affair, manages to obtain his release on bail. In this way, the professor has the opportunity to redeem himself and reflect on his actions.
I hope this summary reflects the plot you have described. If you need further details or changes, please do not hesitate to ask.