The Promised Life

In 1920, the Carrizzos work a farm in the Sicilian countryside owned by the unscrupulous Vincenzo Spanò, who is obsessed with the beautiful-but married-head of the family, Carmela. When she rebuffs his advances, Vincenzo targets her son and husband in revenge, and Carmela realizes that to save her children, she must immigrate to America.

On the long journey to America, Carmela works aboard the ship to pay her family’s way and begins to learn what to expect upon arrival. She also meets Mr. Ferri, a rich gentleman who assists the Carrizzos. Meanwhile, her daughter Maria recovers from her illness in Naples, and Donna Assunta seeks to reunite the girl with her family.

At Ellis Island, the registry office changes the family’s surname to Rizzo, which proves to be an unexpected boon. Carmela’s new husband, Matteo Schiavon, introduces her to the dark side of Little ltaly, where criminal gangs blackmail poor people on behalf of the mysterious “Mano Nera.” Back in Naples, Marie marries a wealthy young man.

Life in New York is improving for Carmela and her family: her eldest son, Michele, has secured a job and joined a trade union. Carmela wants him next to start looking for a wife, but Michele would rather focus on fighting for workers’ rights. Carmela gets another surprise when Maria and her husband arrive in America.

Mr. Ferri takes the Rizzo family under his wing, becoming a mentor for Carmela’s youngest son, Alfredo, but his motives may not be entirely altruistic. Young prostitute Rosa comes to Little Italy with a newborn child and an agreement to marry Rocco, Carmela’s son, by proxy. However, she falls in love with Michele instead.

The relationship between Rosa and Carmela grows increasingly tense, but Carmela still wants to help her, so she teaches Rosa the basics of ironing and accompanies her on a job search. Meanwhile, Maria continues to blame her mother for leaving her in Italy as she lay ill, and she feels torn between her first love, Alfio, and her new life in New York with her husband and child.

Vincenzo Spanò arrives in New York and immediately acquaints himself with the local criminals, while Carmela’s son Antonio suffers consequences for his own involvement with the gangs. As Michele and Rosa deepen their relationship, Carmela receives a mysterious flower delivery.

Maria and Mosè are having problems in their marriage, and Mosè doesn’t know what to do. Michele becomes more and more involved with the trade unions, and Carmela and Rosa have a violent confrontation that tests the bonds of the Rizzo family.