The film adapts two traditional Portuguese narratives: the tale “A Donzela que Vai à Guerra” and the oral novella “A Mão do Finado”. In the plot, Dom Rodrigo has no male heirs and decides to marry his daughter Sílvia to Dom Paio, a neighboring nobleman, in order to expand his domains. Before traveling to the court to invite the king to the ceremony, Rodrigo forbids Sílvia and her sister Susana from opening the doors of the estate to anyone. The order is disobeyed when Sílvia gives shelter to a pilgrim. The unfolding of these events alters the young woman’s destiny, leading her to assume the identity of a knight errant. The work marks the film debut of actress Maria de Medeiros.

Restored version.

Paulo Branco receives the Leon Cakoff Prize at this 50th Mostra.