Based on the life of a legendary capoeira fighter from Bahia, "Besouro" spins a fantastic tale of a young Brazilian man of African descent in search of his mission.

In Rio de Janeiro, the forty-something year old, Mercedes, goes to the psychoanalyst and tells the story of her life - from a child who lost her mother. Over three years of analysis, her life changes and she divorces her husband, Gustavo, and has love affairs with Theo and other young men, always supported by her best friend Monica.

Shopping malls - today's place of creating desires. Best jewelry, clothes, shoes. Unaffordable by young girls, but they "work" to get themselves sponsors for new items.

A rich American couple, a family of Dutch criminals, a French gay couple, a working class family from Germany and an illegal Moroccan youth and his kid brother, are all in Amsterdam, each with their own story. Different reasons make their paths intertwine, leading to a dramatic climax that changes their lives for ever.