Ana Sáez

1944 yılı İspanya'sında, sivil savaş kargaşası sona ermiş görünse de, Navarra'nın kuzeyindeki dağlık bölgelerde çatışmalar sürmektedir. Kendi hayal dünyasında yaşayan 10 yaşındaki Ofelia, hamile annesi Carmen'le birlikte, Navarra'ya, üvey babası Kaptan Vidal'in yanına gider. Kaptan Vidal, faşist yönetimin emrinde çalışan ve sınırları isyancılardan temizlemekle görevli bir memurdur. Sert mizacı ve otoriter tavrı nedeniyle üvey babasıyla en ufak bir yakınlık kuramayan Ofelia, bir gün arka bahçelerinde, esrarengiz bir labirent keşfeder. Bu labirentin içinde tanıştığı, gövdesinin yarısı insan yarısı yaratık olan Pan'la yaşayacakları, Ofelia'nın bütün yaşamını değiştirecektir.

Pablo is a twenty-year-old man who wants to be a musician in order to be appreciated by his mother and find a male partner he can share his love with. He finds one, but because of his demanding behaviour, he is soon alone again. He tries to become a French horn player in the Youth Spain National Orchestra, but the examiner turns out to be his father, who's been living apart from his family and doesn't really accept Pablo's sexual trends. Once Pablo fails in his exam, he feels very depressed. When another French horn player from Valencia hasn't got a place to sleep, Pablo takes him home to his house. The next morning, however, he finds a girl named Salome inside of his bed.

Matias is a soccer referee. He promised his dying mother never to lie. When he referees a match of the spanish national team and there is a clear penalty against Spain in the last minute of the game he has no choice and marks the foul. As a result Spain does not qualify for the world championship and Matias is forced to escape from the rage of the people. He hides in the town of his father which he hasn't visited since his childhood.

Madrid, 1974. Former women's jail of Yeserias. Lucia, a girl well situated in society, is condemned to spend ten years in jail due to her relation with a politic militant against Franco's dictatorship. While being in prison she lives with every kind of woman: intelectuals, killers, illiterates, ... All of them must share food, living space, joys and pities; joined by the same fate, lack of freedom, they will have to fight together against desperation. Lucia is willing o live, to learn form that world the fate has given to her where, on the contrary to what she imagines, tenderness and laugh exist. And also the complicity and solidarity of some women living an experience which will mark them for ever.

Justino was working in a bull-ring but now he is retired. For him it is very difficult to adapt to the new situation although he will find soon a hobby without forgetting his profession.

Some friends struggle for their first jobs.

Atilano Bermejo is a petty crook who gets involved in the scam of his life: to be Prime Minister. His charisma and lack of social concern make him an ideal political candidate for a group of bankers looking for a good public image behind which to hide and disguise their ambitions.

Recounts the experiences of a middle-class family, the Alcántaras, during the last years of the rule of Francisco Franco and the beginning of the Spanish Transition to democracy.