An elderly couple, fluent in Quechua, resides in the Altiplano, an arid high plateau amidst the majestic Andes. The sick Virginio, portrayed by José Calcina, is aware that his days are numbered and chooses to conceal his deteriorating health from his devoted wife, Sisa, played by Luisa Quispe. Their enduring bond is reflected in the rich tapestry of their shared experiences, spent primarily tending to their llamas. Nestled within the embrace of towering mountains, Virginio often gazes sorrowfully at the sky, desperately yearning for rain.
As the parched earth remains unforgiving and their village well runs dry, Sisa embarks on a daily trek to the river—an arduous journey frequented by women from neighboring communities who flock to the last remaining spring. One fateful day, their grandson Clever, portrayed by Santos Choque, pays them a visit, bringing tidings from the city. During this encounter, the elderly couple engages in a conspicuous argument in their native Quechua, while Clever attempts to bridge the gap by conversing with them in Spanish. His intention is clear: he wants his grandparents to abandon their rural life and relocate to the city, where the ailing Virginio can receive necessary medical attention.
In a poignant moment, Clever and Virginio venture into the mountains alongside other villagers to perform a ritual aimed at invoking rain. However, after the ceremony, the villagers become frustrated as they deliberate the ongoing drought, with many contemplating a move to the city as a potential solution. During one of his days of herding, Virginio tragically collapses. Clever discovers him and hurriedly brings him back to a distressed Sisa, who implores Virginio to reveal the truth behind his mysterious cough. Caught in a web of concern for his beloved wife, Virginio fears leaving Sisa alone and would prefer her to join him in the afterlife rather than uproot her to the city.
An argument ensues between Clever and Virginio, highlighting the tension between their desires and fears, leading to Clever storming out of the village. Yet, he soon returns with a doctor in tow, who attempts to persuade Virginio to seek treatment in the city. Despite the mounting pressure, Virginio stoically declines, choosing to remain silent about his impending death. In the shadows of his life, he encounters poignant reminders of mortality: a dehydrated llama, a soaring condor, and the bittersweet news that Clever is about to become a father—a revelation he overhears.
In a touching farewell, Virginio discreetly prepares a tin box that holds precious photos and tokens of gold for Clever. The day before he peacefully succumbs in his sleep, he bestows this box—and his cherished hat—upon Clever. At Virginio's funeral, the neighboring villagers gather to pay their respects, marking the end of an era. As Clever prepares to return to the city, he exchanges heartfelt goodbyes with Sisa, who requests that he visit her often. Left to face her solitude, the widowed Sisa tends to the llamas under a dramatically thunderous sky, a testament to the resilience of life amidst loss.
