Font-aux-cabres is the name of an Andalusian village, benefiting the Commander of the Order of Calatrava, who supports Juana Beltraneja, the pretender to the throne of Castile, against the Catholic Monarchs. The Commander's tyranny is felt throughout the country, subjecting village women and girls to his whims by threat or violence. Laurencia, who dares to refuse him, is kidnapped on her wedding day, and her fiancé Frondoso is imprisoned.

Michel, a young man of Ukrainian origin, flees the Red Army and joins the International Brigades in Perpignan to fight Franco. He was arrested for being Russian, Communist and deserter. He was wounded by his involvement, but fell in love with an American journalist.