Colombia, on the banks of Magdalena Medio, 2002. José returns home deep in the forest after a long fishing night to discover that paramilitary forces killed his two sons, Dionisio and Rafael, and threw their bodies into the river. José begins a lonely journey to retrieve and provide a proper burial for his boys, in order to prevent their tormented souls from being stuck in this world. Aboard his canoe, José discovers the magic of a country torn into pieces.