简介：卡瓦尔康蒂在巴西拍摄的最后一部影片，也是其后期电影生涯的代表作之一，这位在巴西出生的导演一生却漂泊于法国，德国等欧洲国家拍片，很少回到本国，而在仅有的几部在巴西拍摄的影片之中，本片是其中最出色的。1954年捷克卡维罗发利国际电影节最佳导演奖。
In the drought areas of Northeastern of Brazil, groups of migrants move trying to find better place to live, at least with water. Some of them go to Recife, to get a vessel to Santos expecting to have a better life in the Southern. In the poor area of Recife, an old washerwoman launders clothes to survive and support her family. Her husband Zé Luis, a former sailor, is crazy due to a hit of the boom of a mast on his head. Her older son Raimundo works in a grocery and selling mangoes on the street, trying to save money to move to the Southeastern with his girl-friend Aurora. Her daughter wants to be a prostitute to have a better quality of life. Her younger son is seriously sick.
