On the last days of his life, while succumbing to alcoholism in a hospital, famed writer Lima Barreto chronicles his trajectory story as a black, poor writer living in Brazilian society between monarchy's dying days and early years of republic with its countless social problems, which formed the basis of his many novels.

Julia lives with her religious mother, Marta. She finds herself into a moral dilemma when she discovers she's attracted to Barbara, her church's new member.