In Spain of the 1960s, a poor family of quinquis - a nomadic ethnic group with a tradition as old as that of the gypsises of Spain but with even more obscure origins - have a nomadic life marked by poverty. The son, Eleuterio Sánchez Rodriguez, nicknamed "El Lute", steals some chickens and is condemned to six months in jail. El Lute moves to the slum outskirts of Madrid with his common law wife, Chelo, starting an itinerant life as a peddler of pots and pans and living in a quinqui shantytown. He gradually embarks upon as life of petty criminality, eventually participating in the theft of a jewelry store during which a bystander is killed.

Imanol Arias
as Eluterio Sánchez 'El Lute'

Victoria Abril
as Chelo

Antonio Valero
as Raimundo Medrano

Carlos Tristancho
as Juan José Agudo

Diana Peñalver
as Esperanza

Margarita Calahorra
as La Madre de Chelo

Manuel de Blas
as Policía

Luis Marín
as Policía

Alicia Agut
as Señora 1

José Luis Alexandre
as Policía