User Reviews

In 1929, on the lush tropical island of Trinidad, two brothers of Portuguese descent run a winery where they make a bastard version of Madeira wine. Xav, the owner of the winery, wields inordinate power over Bosie, who has been deformed since childhood. While he slaves as Xav's "partner," Bosie plots his sweet revenge. Although he has a daughter, Xav's greatest desire is to have a male heir. Bosie uses this as his cue to destroy his brother's dreams. He asks Lucio, an old flame of Xav's wife Carmina, to work in the winery. Xav's jealousy poisons his relationship with Carmina, and she succumbs to depression and illness, and eventually dies. With her death, Xav realizes the extent of his brother's connivance, and decides to sever his relationship with him, finally breaking the cycle of dependency and domination. Xav reconciles with his daughter and keeps the promise he had made to Carmina as she lay dying– to treat his daughter like the son he had always wanted.