片名是指一名西班牙远征队的队长，影片根据他留下的回忆录改编，颇有反殖民主义色彩。1528年，他率领的船只在佛罗里达外海触礁，船上600多人遇难，只剩两三人。上岸后遭遇当地印第安部落，遭囚禁，后被释放，后来的八年里他逐渐学会了他们的文化和习俗。当别的远征队到来并试图抓印第安人当奴隶时，他必须面对痛苦的选择。

Gaspar de Carvajal, a Dominican, has not seen his family since the age of 10 when he was sent away to pursue the religious life. He attends the funeral of his father, where he notices that the body was washed, then buried in a shroud and without a coffin. Gaspar tells his confessor that he suspects his family, Jews converted to Catholicism, are still following the old ways. Father Lorenzo says this matter must be taken before the Inquisition. Alonso de Peralta, chief Inquisitor of New Spain, orders the Carvajal family arrested on the testimony of their son. Hernando, a Franciscan friar, is sent as a spy to the cell of Luis, Gaspar's brother. Luis's faith converts Hernando to Judaism. Under torture, Luis's mother Francisca confesses. Each family member renounces the Jewish heresy and is allowed to leave prison. But they are warned. If they revert to Judaism a second time, they will be burnt at the stake... Written by David Carless

阿尔玛是一个妙龄少女，在一个马戏团以表演杂技并于当小丑的父亲相依为命。不过每当夜幕降临的时候，阿尔玛却宽衣解带投入亲生父亲的怀。但是不幸的是阿尔玛怀上了自己父亲的孩子，而且父亲在一次做爱中，心脏病发作去世了。怀着乱伦的孩子，阿尔玛离开了马戏团。流浪中的阿尔玛结识了以表演木偶戏谋生的舍格拉曼托一家。阿尔玛与舍格拉曼托两个年轻人互相吸引，产生了感情。为了与舍格拉曼托在一起，阿尔玛打掉了自己的孩子。

塞巴斯蒂安遇见安东尼奥，这是一见钟情。但障碍不会等待。

1981 film