Synopsis
The Ulmans are a tranquil bourgeois family until their father unexpectedly dies. Suddenly his wife and their four children find themselves having to come to grips with the pain of their loss and with the financial problems connected with the man’s death. 17 year-old Maya feels the burden of the new situation the most. She had dreamt of becoming a singer, but instead she finds herself looking after her younger brother and sister. In fact, her mother reacts to her loss by allowing herself to become completely absorbed by her work in the hospital. Notwithstanding Maya’s efforts, the family begins to break up: the younger daughter is afraid to go to school and also of the new building the family has moved into. The younger boy dreams of breaking the dangerous world record of diving into an empty swimming pool, while the older boy leaves school and finds a job distributing publicity flyers dressed as a mouse. When the exhausted Maya decides to leave home to follow her dream, the situation precipitates: the girl will soon be forced to return home.