In early 1970s Francoist Spain, Alfredo (Javier Cámara), a struggling encyclopedia salesman, and his wife Carmen (Candela Peña) face severe financial distress. To keep his job, Alfredo accepts a proposal from his publishing company, owned by Don Carlos (Juan Diego), to direct and star in Super-8 home adult films under the guise of an educational series on sexology for the Scandinavian market. As Alfredo becomes obsessed with auteur filmmaking and Ingmar Bergman, Carmen agrees to star in the films hoping the money will help them start a family. Tensions rise when a Danish producer, Magnus (Mads Mikkelsen), joins the production in Torremolinos and expresses romantic interest in Carmen.