The events narrated in the play centre on Giuseppe Secchi’s migration from his home town of Oliena in 1946 to Cortoghiana, at the time one of the most productive coal mining basins in the Sulcis area. He dies a few years later, “that day” 21st August 1952 in a tragic accident caused by the explosion of the firedamp. Another two miners die with him, Agostino Fronteddu from Dorgali and Giovanni Luvarà from Reggio Calabria. The Sardinian mining company, Soc.An.Mineraria Carbonifera Sarda, clears itself of all responsibility and takes no measures to safeguard the health and safety of the miners because the lives of workers count for nothing compared to the need to increase production and earnings.
