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A poetic young man's life and mental health are destroyed by his scheming, jealous older brother. This Gothic, psychological melodrama follows the events that caused his descent into madness. The decision about what to do with the ashes of their recently deceased deadbeat father plays a central role in the fraternal turmoil. At 21, Esteban is the oldest son. He eventually returns to his hometown of Curerenavaca one year after his father's funeral. Esteban loves travelling around. He arrogantly calls himself a writer and considers himself among the intellectual elite. But despite his grandiose pretensions, Esteban is decidedly lacking in talent; however, his good-hearted, humble little brother Juan is brimming with it. Unfortunately, Juan is a tad naive and therefore susceptible to Esteban's manipulative influence. Thanks to Esteban, the formerly devoted younger brother leaves his family's grand home and his financially struggling mother to live in a ghetto with his lover Alba. Meanwhile, to make ends meet, Juan's mother takes in a pair of Catholic theologians. Even after the family dynamics have dramatically changed, Esteban continues his wicked machinations and this leads to tragedy for Juan.