In a remote island in Indonesia, during the colonial era, the Dutch couple Jan and Agathe owns a sugar plantation. Jan has an affair with Siti, a native concubine. One day, coming back from his nightly visit, Jan dies. Afraid of losing her privileges and status quo, Agathe asks her son, Cornelis, to come back from Europe and take over the family business. But her plans might be ruined: in his will, Jan left the property to Siti.

Winner of the prize for best performance, for actress Renée Soutendijk, at the Locarno Film Festival.