Nikiema is a farmer from Burkina who sees fate come down upon him. His fouryearold son dies from a simple case of measles. He sells off his cotton crop at a good price, but he still faces a lot of debts. His fifteenyear old son, who had been helping him with the farm work, flunks out of school and moves to Ouagadaougou, where he finds a job guarding people's bicycles. Nikiema tries to commit suicide because he cannot fulfill his promises to his creditors any more. He is saved at the last moment ...