Agricultural laborers in Valle del Cauca, Colombia, harvest a field of sugarcane using machetes. The camera keeps its distance as it observes their smooth movements. Soon the rhythmic movements of the machetes develop their own choreography, whilst time appears to expand.

Oscuro animal tells the story of three women forced to flee their homes in a war torn region in Colombia. Each of their journeys, marked by terror, takes them on a trek from the deep jungle to the outskirts of Bogotá, where they will gather new strength to start a new life.