Ramón Guerola (Raul Julia) is a deeply devout, older farmer living in a small, isolated New Mexico community. Obsessed with spiritual cleansing, he plans to participate in a dangerous, violent rituals held by Los Hermanos Penitentes (The Penitent Brothers), a religious sect that practices self-flagellation and mock crucifixion. His life is upended when his charismatic, younger best friend, Juan Mateo (Armand Assante), returns to the village. Juan falls passionately in love with Ramón's young, beautiful wife, Corina (Julie Carmen). Despite Ramón's loyalty to Juan, Juan and Corina engage in a secret, intense extramarital affair, creating severe guilt and emotional turmoil that intersects tragically with Ramón’s deadly religious pilgrimage.