the city of rio de janeiro is soon to hand over its role of federal capital to the newly constructed and soon to be inaugurated federal district of brasilia, a military coup d'état is brewing and the bossa nova music scene is making its international emergence, in part thanks to its exposure in the successful international film orfeu negro.

the film's story is centered on the american poet who won the pulitzer prize in 1956, elizabeth bishop (miranda otto) - during a period of writers' block in 1951 elizabeth comes to rio de janeiro to visit a colleague mary (tracy middendorf) who lives with the brazilian architect who can be credited with the construction of flamengo park, lota de macedo soares (glória pires).

they live in lota's glorious samambaia estate outside the city, designed by oscar niemeyer and the landscapist burle marx.