In the Serranía de la Macarena, in the northern Colombian Amazon, flows the mythical red river. Young Oscar, Doña María, and the indigenous Sabino live there peacefully, in harmony with nature, since the distant days when guerrillas ruled the area.

Today, the territory and its inhabitants face new changes: the military has settled in the middle of the jungle, tourists arrive en masse to see the river, there is talk of potential oil exploitation, and deforestation of the forest is increasing dramatically.

As time goes by, the river and the forest seem to lose their magic. Doña María clings to the nostalgia of the past, Óscar grows up and loses his beloved "childhood garden," and the indigenous Sabino takes refuge in the hopes of his ancient indigenous legends.