Portrait of Maria

A budding journalist inquires about a painting of a nude Indigenous woman displayed in an elderly artist’s studio. The artist recounts the tale of Maria Candelaria (played by Dolores del Río), a young Indigenous woman ostracized by her community due to her mother’s past as a prostitute. She finds solace and protection in Lorenzo Rafael (portrayed by Pedro Armendáriz), a young Indigenous man who has developed feelings for her.