The film tells the story of Bendron, a farmer in the southern United States, who leads his family to transport his body back to his hometown for burial in order to keep his promise to his wife. The ten-day trip was disastrous: the flood nearly washed away the coffin, then the mule pulled the rickshaw was drowned and the body was incinerated by fire. As a result, the eldest son lost a foot, the second went crazy, the third son lost his beloved horse, the daughter failed to have an abortion, he was raped by the pharmacy clerk, and the youngest son did not get the desired little train, while Benderen installed dentures and married a new wife.