At the tender age of eight Marcel is abandoned by his mother. He is raised by his grandfather, Pascual, who introduces him to a world of fantasy and gives him the love and care that his mother couldn"t. When Marcel turns twenty-one, he believes the time has come to live on his own. He"s got plans with his girlfriend and feels ready to leave his home. At the same time, Pascual has become very old, and starts showing the symptoms of a disease that will dramatically affect Marcel"s plans. He must chose to leave or stay to take care of the only relative that ever loved him and cared for him. The choice is far from simple, between his grandfather and his love, in this critically acclaimed, tender, coming-of-age story from the crossroads of desire, devotion and love.