In 1950's Havana, before the Revolution, Samuel is brought to Havana by his mother Alicia, a newly divorced woman, to live with her long-ignored mother Violeta. At first, Violeta teases and commands Samuel. She tries to intimidate him a little and threatens him with being sent away to school. But, rather suddenly he becomes Violeta's protégé. She's a portrait photographer and Samuel becomes her assistant. Gradually a nice relationship between Violeta and Samuel develops. Alicia meets Ramon, the plump and proper owner of a shoe store. Alicia goes to work at Ramon's shop, and eventually they marry. Meanwhile, Samuel receives some advanced kissing lessons. Samuel meets a beautiful woman delivering photo portraits. She is Violeta's most beautiful model, a movie star named film star Nuria. She turns out to be the girlfriend of one of the most famous heroes of the Cuban Revolution.