In 1958, on the verge of the Prostitution in Italy#Legge Merlin L. 75.2F58 that makes brothels illegal, Mimma (Debora Caprioglio), a young country girl, comes to town and decides to work as a prostitute in order to help her fiancé get the money to start their own business, and is given the name Paprika at Madame Collette's (Martine Brochard) house. Once her fiancé betrays her, Mimma gives up her original ambitions and decides to become a career prostitute. In the process, she loses any sense of self-confidence and self-respect, but eventually she finds redemption, wealth, and her one true love.