Santos Moreira

Ana Maria loves a modest guitar player, Júlio; when she herself in a 'retiro' (typical fado tavern), public and critics rend major applause. Fame brings about new friends, namely bohemian young who play and sing the fado with her, and not so young men but who rich and powerful enough to patronize her, promote her, and wish to become intimate with her. Júlio the guitarist feel betrayed, and he sets his mind to depart to the African colonies, to leave her forever. Knowing that he's going to embark, Ana Maria's heart between her first love, and the appeal of the rich and famous.

Manuel da Cruz, a young apprentice in the saddle, is discovered by the cattleman João Gama, who marvels at his skill, deciding to make him a great bullfighter.

In Coimbra, law student José Duarte and the beautiful Maria de Lisboa experience an intense love story, but after finishing his studies and feeling betrayed, José Duarte abandons Maria and goes to Porto, seeking success as a singer of Coimbra fado. But, unknowingly, he leaves her pregnant with a child.