Southern France, 19th century. Teresa, a young girl, arrives at an isolated female boarding school that is tyrannically mastered by Mrs. Fourneau, the strict headmistress, whose protective shadow haunts Luis, her weak son.
Juan marries prestigious lawyer María José. As she won't give up her career to become a housewife, during their wedding night Juan pretends to leave his job and acts out the role of a traditional housewife himself.
