CarmelivesinamountainvillageinGaliciawithhersickmotherandfatherRamón,withwhomshehardlyspeaks.Workinginabakery,shefeelstheurgetoescapefromthisoppressiveatmosphere,butcircumstancesalwaysseemtostopher.ButduringtheRapadasBestasweekend–acelebrationoftheage-oldstrugglebetweenmanandhorse–Carme’solderbrother,Luís,comeshomewithhiswifeMaría…