With tears in his eyes, the young father, Panos, bids farewell to his wife, Froso, and their little children--Vasilakis, and Meroula--leaving Greece for the hard life of a sailor. In high hopes of creating a better future for his poor family, the hard-working parent risks his life to earn more money to support them; nevertheless, the sudden arrival of Froso's lazy good-for-nothing brother--the recently released from jail, Thanasis--threatens to negate his efforts. Before long, a seemingly endless series of cruel and unjust calamities will bring Froso to her knees, as her desperate children struggle to eke out an existence. Will anyone take pity on a wounded heart?