After his father dies, Elder is forced to live with his grandmother – far away from the city – and learn to be a worker. His godfather, Francisco, helps Elder find his place in a mining company, and the two end up working together. Elder, however, skips work daily. Francisco grudgingly endures this, and his co-workers mock him because of Elder’s behavior. They also seem to know some dark secrets about Francisco’s relationship with Elder’s deceased father – and Elder is curious to know more. When Francisco finds Elder lost in a tunnel that is about to be blasted, he leaves him there – but because Elder survives, the miners see him as good luck. When the miners have to travel far away, the conflict between Elder and Francisco unravels.