Werner Schroeter directed this dark and surreal tale of a man determined to save a lost lover from a grim fate at the hands of a violent mob. The city of Santa Maria is falling into chaos as an armed military faction is poised to take power in a coup d'etat. Ossorio used to call Santa Maria home, and he has returned in its darkest hour to find the woman he loves, hoping to rescue her from the violence that is lurks around the corner. As Ossorio searches for his love, he meets Victoria in a shabby hotel, who in turn introduces him to her father Barcala, who for the right price is willing to take Ossorio and another passenger away on his boat. While Ossorio is willing to pay Barcala what he wants, can he find the mysterious woman before the ship sets sail?
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Pascal GreggoryOssorio | Ossorio |
 Bruno TodeschiniMorasan | Morasan |
 Amira CasarIrène | Irène |
 Éric CaravacaVillar | Villar |
 Nathalie DelonRisso | Risso |
 Jean-François StéveninMartins | Martins |
 Laura SoveralRosaria's mother | Rosaria's mother |
 Filipe DuarteJúlio | Júlio |
 Teresa TavaresGirl with a joint | Girl with a joint |
 Simão CayatteSailor | Sailor |
 Nuno LopesAboud | Aboud |
 Bulle OgierDoña Inês | Doña Inês |
 Patrícia BullCleaning lady | Cleaning lady |
 Adelaide TeixeiraNeighbor | Neighbor |
 Pedro FriasTaxi driver | Taxi driver |
 Carloto CottaMobile guard | Mobile guard |
 Marc BarbéVargas | Vargas |
 Sami FreyBarcala | Barcala |
 Elsa ZylbersteinMaria de Souza | Maria de Souza |
 Mostefa DjadjamGranowsky | Granowsky |
 João BaptistaJuan | Juan |
 Pascale SchillerAgnès | Agnès |
 Oleg ZhukovMax | Max |
| PPatrícia GuerreiroLola | Lola |
 Marta MateusHermínia | Hermínia |
 Cassiano CarneiroBrazilian | Brazilian |
 Hugo Mestre AmaroCustomer | Customer |
 Paulo PintoTaxi driver | Taxi driver |
 Hugo TouritaTortured man | Tortured man |
 Ivo BastosMilitiaman | Militiaman |