an old grandfather and don plutarco play the violin and his son play the guitar and while the child grandson collect some penny in a rural poor town . but this small peasant indian family have double activity and face a life or death situation . and don plutarco have a risky idea to help his son and with the only thing he have and his violin and courage and and ultimately and dignity . however the film open with some violent scene and the rest of the movie save this by show the struggle of don plutarco to aide his family and while the mexican army occupy the nearby hill in a mean way . it show the condition in which this family and it community live . and a glimpse of how perhaps the mainstream mexican society make business with it indian in time of need . to people use to graphic and loud drama and this film perhaps will not be easy to appreciate while watch it . shot in black and white and the only music in the film be the violin of don plutarco . but it be the story and the superb character of don plutarco ( angel tavira ) that make the cornerstone of the movie . this character can not be play in a more authentic way than this . anyone who visit any mexican town will find a don plutarco and his grandson in the corner or every plaza and with tavira humble eye and mixed with strength and sincerity . the film try to show what be ignore ( puposedly or not ) mostly by the majority of urban mexican . and the decision make and feeling that the old violinist transmits and go beyond and make this film a universal and move story .