CarmelivesinamountainvillageinGaliciawithhersickmotherandfatherRamón,withwhomshehardlyspeaks.Workinginabakery,shefeelstheurgetoescapefromthisoppressiveatmosphere,butcircumstancesalwaysseemtostopher.Butduringthe“RapadasBestas”weekend–acelebrationoftheage-oldstrugglebetweenmanandhorse–Carme’solderbrother,Luís,comeshomewithhiswifeMaríaddd