Manoel de Oliveira's final work revisits one of his earliest films and celebrates a century of industrialization in Portugal.
Despite his age and general weariness, Gebo keeps on working as an accountant to provide for his family. He lives with his wife, Doroteia, and his daughter-in-law, Sofia, but it is the absence of João, son and husband, that worries them.Gebo seems to be hiding something, especially to Doroteia, who is anxiously waiting to see her son again. Sofia is also waiting for her husband to come home, and yet she fears him. All of a sudden, João arrives and everything changes.
A group of tourists arrives to the historical center of Guimarães. The camera goes up over the shoulder of Alfonso Henriques' statue. The first king of Portugal, holding up his sword, demands respect. Nevertheless, from there we see how the group of tourists take over the place and sourround the Conqueror with their cameras.
A photographer, Isaac is asked by hotel owners to take portraits of their recently deceased daughter Angélica. When he looks at her through the lens of his camera, she appears to come back to life just for him. He instantly falls in love with her. From that moment, he will be haunted by Angélica day and night.
On a train to Algarve, a young man recounts to a fellow passenger his past relationship with an eccentric young woman.