Province of Valencia, Spain, 19th century. Tonet lives an intense love story with Neleta, whom he has known since childhood, but is forced to leave her to serve in the war in Cuba.
In the final days of the Spanish Civil War, a married couple of Republican refugees goes into hiding in a northern Spanish seaside town. While the wife stays there with their recently born child, the husband continues North to an uncertain future in France.
Dolores works as a washerwoman with her daughter Sole and they both live with the girl's stepfather and her godfather, a nice good-for-nothing guy. Although they all have a very different personality, they share the illusion of seeing Sole become a great artist.
Through a pictoric play, this movie tells the story about the painter Eduardo Miranda who, one night, while he was lokking to a gipsy group that was dancing, discovers a beautifull girl called Carmen. Dazzled by her beauty he decides to paint a picture. This causes roumours in the neighborhood, and it also arouses the jealousy of his wife.
During the popular Harvest Festival, arrives in the city of Jerez a young teacher from England to investigate the benefits of wine for humans. In turn, the painting "Drunks" by Velázquez, escaping a character, with the task of Bacchus to defend and spread the excellence of the wines.
King Charles V sent his confidant, Don Fernando,from France to the Spanish Court carrying an important documentation. However, the frigate where he travels is sunk by the British and all the sailors perish. Don Fernando manages to save his life reaching the island of Menorca where he is helped by a humble fisherman