Carlos Carrera directed this Mexican drama that begins in 1928 when 13-year-old longshoreman's son Eliseo (Daniel Acuna) dreams of leaving the southeastern port of Progreso like his sister Magda (who escapes with charismatic circus acrobat Roy). Eliseo loses his virginity to his schoolteacher Felipa (Blanca Guerra), but she becomes the target of accusations and is driven out of town. Eliseo then becomes a twosome with Lupita, daughter of his father's boss. The story flashes forward to 1937, when the adult Eliseo (Mario Zaragoza) has married Lupita. After Felipa returns to the town to build a school, she and Eliseo once again become intimate, and problems erupt.