A surrealistic, allegorical portrayal of poverty, hunger, and death in a 16th-century Mexican village. "During the feast of All Souls Day, Macario, a Mexican peasant, revolts against his lifetime of poverty by vowing never to eat again until he has a whole turkey for himself. His wife steals one for him, cooks it, and tells him to eat it while his five hungry children are sleeping. His hunger stronger than his conscience, Macario goes into the woods...

It is a time of revolution and Sonia's rebellious heart causes further commotion in her village. Recently betrothed to a young community leader, Miguel, she is walking along a path in the Selva Lacandona one day when she locks eyes with those of Julio, a rebel fighter ; their passion puts the security of her community and the Zapatista rebels in jeopardy. Meanwhile, Alicia, Sonia's younger sister, learns to interpret reality (as government forces...