In 1962, a photographer working for a crime reports newspaper in Valparaiso, Chile, is obsessed with creating a photo novel that will revolutionize the art world. Helped by its neighbors, humiliated by their producers, but determined to make his ambitious project a reality, the photographer will betray -one after another- their unusual theories, neighbors, colleagues, their love and finally himself.
Carlos Meléndez is unemployed, and finding himself without basic services such as gas, water and electricity. For twelve hours, he will have to endure and battle against the various ills of a congested city - bureaucratic secretaries of ill will, punk criminals, policemen, among others- in order to seek the respect of his peers.