Maria a young girl living in Portugal in the late 60's, is left alone by her husband who is taken to the colonial war in Africa on their wedding day. In an environment of traditions and taboos she tries to deal with her love and loss at the same time she tries to find her own voice.
Everyone remembers well that night of the burning pigs. José was born the morning after, and some say that he came from that fire, and became man out of the pigs. When his mother dies, José leaves the village for the first time, in search of something more.