Mecha, su marido y sus cuatro hijos pasan el verano en una finca cerca de la ciudad de La Ciénaga, en el nordeste argentino. Su prima Tali, quien también tiene un marido y cuatro hijos, no tiene piscina en su casa. Dos accidentes reúnen a las dos familias en el campo, donde tratan de sobrevivir al verano.
Chekhov in contemporary Argentina. Mecha and Gregorio are at their rundown ranch near La Ciénaga with their teen children. It is hot. The adults drink constantly; Mecha cuts herself, engendering a trip to the hospital and a visit from her son José. A cousin, Tali, brings her children. The kids are on their own, sunbathing by the filthy pool, dancing in town, running in the hills with shotguns, driving cars without licenses. One of the teen girls loves Isabel, a family servant constantly accused of stealing. Mother and son, son and sisters, teen and Isabel are in each other's beds and bathrooms with a creepy intimacy. With no adults paying attention, who is at risk?