 The film is set in an unnamed Brazilian small town.Zé do Caixão, the local undertaker who disdains religion and emotion and who believes the only thing that matters is the "continuity of the blood" (specifically his own), is looking for the "perfect woman" to bear him a superior child who will be immortal.Since his wife Lenita has been found to be unable to bear children, Zé begins to make advances with Terezinha, the fiancée of Zé's friend Antonio.