During World War I, João Ratão is a Portuguese soldier fighting in Flandres, France. He dreams of Vitória, a young lady with whom he corresponds by way of emotional love letters... that a comrade writes for him. João Ratão is analphabet. Back home, it`s time to come in the open, and courage fails João Ratão. More learned men are after Vitória, and jealousy starts burning João Ratão, like the rat of the popular tale... Will victory be his?