River Films

The story is set in late 19th century rural corner of South England. The daughter of timber merchant Melbury, Grace, returns to the town after finishing school. Her father now believes she can find a better husband than her childhood sweetheart, woodsman Giles. She marries handsome young doctor Fitzpiers, but soon finds out he's not the man of her dreams and she still loves Giles.

Set in Cuba in early 1959, although the historical context is deliberately avoided in its epic backdrop, the story follows the persecution of a poor guy who owes a few pesos to a loan shark and a thug who swear to get even with him, not so much because of the unpaid debt as because they don't want to set a precedent. The man's name is Miguel, and he seems to care as much as Santiago Nasar that the killers are hot on his heels with their half-tone shoes. On the day of his "double crime" (the story recreates those 24 hours), he has a couple of drinks in a bar, argues with his ex-lover, has sex with a young prostitute, puts up with a scolding from his friend Pedro for being negligent, walks, urinates, goes to bed...