In 1958, Felipe, a ten-year-old boy, is sent by his mother to spend the summer with his maternal relatives in
Sanlúcar de Barrameda while he recuperates his frail health. His grandparents are wealthy and live in a vast residence that serves as the center that reunites a large family and many visitors. The house is dominated by the frequent howls of the boy's ancient great-grandmother, who is senile and is taken care of by Adoración, a strict nurse, who endures the old woman's endlessly repeated recollection of the four bandoleros who killed each other for her love. Pampered on his arrival by the women in the house, Felipe is ordered to stay in bed by the family's doctor. He is given the bedroom of his absent uncle Ramón and spends his time reading
Little Women. Felipe quickly forms a close friendship with Mari, the talkative and meddlesome maid. She keeps four lovers on a string, but refuses to let go of her virginity. An expert on men's matters, Mari shamelessly flirts with the boy even when she has the impression that he might be gay. In secrecy, she shows Felipe some items that she has found in uncle Ramón's bedroom: a suggestive photograph of Ramón in swimming wear revealing his anatomy and a postcard from 1936 signed by someone named Federico that depicts a dog looking at a dove with what Mari describes as a lovesick face. The message in the postcard and its image imply that there was a homoerotic relationship between Ramón and Federico. Felipe points out that the picture was taken in the terrace of the bedroom and both Mari and the boy are fascinated by Ramón's revealing attire in the photograph. Felipe also befriends Uncle Ricardo, the eccentric brother of the boy's grandfather, who trains pigeons and dreams of finding a treasure at sea with his boat. Felipe tells him of Mari's belief that lame doves are queers, then asks Ricardo if he might be queer. Although Ricardo denies it, he does not do so when the boy ask the same question regarding uncle Ramón, evasively responding that he no longer remembers. Peace in the house is frequently disturbed by many visitors like Reglita, a mature spinster, and there is general commotion with the arrival of Felipe's cosmopolitan Aunt Victoria, a singer who sweeps into town with Luigi, her muscle-bound Italian "secretary" in tow. A liberal free thinker who has travelled Europe extensively, Victoria scandalizes Felipe's conservative grandmother with her recitation of erotic and anti-
Franco poetry that makes the neighbors blush but fascinates Reglita. With her free way of living and her expertise on men, Victoria draws the attention of Mari who asks her about her lovers and Victoria shows her a valuable ring that one of them gave her. The uncertainty of Felipe's blossoming sexuality is subjected to further confusion with the surprising arrival of the charismatic communist Uncle Ramón, who takes back possession of his bedroom. Both Felipe and Mari are fascinated by him. Felipe asks Ramón which tastes better, a man, a lady, or a young gal, to which the worldly Uncle Ramón responds, "Ladies and young gals taste great, and I once met a man who tasted like Manchego cheese." Felipe immediately identifies this man as Federico. The boy then compliments his uncle on having gorgeous eyes. There is new commotion in the house with the elopement of Luigi with one of Mari's lovers, stealing Victoria's valuable ring, and with the death of Felipe's senile great grandmother. Mari tells Felipe that he can spy from his bedroom and see Uncle Ramón naked at night, but instead she shows up dancing naked by his window and with Victoria's ring in her hand. The next day Felipe accuses Mari of stealing the ring and, when Felipe shows where she has hidden it, the grandfather fires her. Felipe goes to Mari's room before her departure to reconcile. To Felipe's sadness Uncle Ramón has left as suddenly as he arrived. Victoria, Felipe and Uncle Ricardo set out to sea on a treasure seeking adventure. ==Cast==