After a tragic crime of passion, Artur leaves the depths of Brazil on a journey in search of redemption. Early on, he meets Matuim, the anarchic captain of an old vessel, and comes to befriend him through a series of tense and comic situations.

Joca, a Brazilian boy of 13, and Basano La Tatuada a Paraguayan indigenous girl living on the border between the two countries, marked by the waters of the Rio Apa. Joca is in love with Basano and wants to do everything to win her love.

電影根據真實的犯罪案件「戀屍癖兄弟」改編。1990年代，一對兄弟被指控在巴西的奧爾岡斯山脈，謀殺八位女性、一位男性跟一位小孩。戴奧警官在調查嫌疑犯時，意識到不管是媒體、警方還是當地社會的輿論都有明顯的種族歧視意味。他也開始懷疑其中一位嫌疑犯的罪行。