For Stella Fortuna, death has always been a part of life. Her childhood is full of strange and dangerous incidents - such trivial things as cooking dinner or feeding pigs inevitably lead to a fatal outcome. Even her mother believes that Stella is under some kind of curse. Trials make the girl strong and confident, and Stella uses her strong-willed character to protect her younger, more sensitive sister Tina from the world and her cruel father. On the threshold of World War II, the Fortuna family leaves for America to look for a better life. There, two sisters have to grow up side by side, and in this new world, much is expected of them. Stella soon realizes that her life, after all her trials, will be worthless if she does not achieve freedom. But this is exactly what her family cannot afford her under any circumstances...