Following the Korean War, poverty and mass destruction prevailed and misery hung in the air. By presenting the story of two, poor women at that time, this film examines gender, war, kinship and Confucian culture. Because Young-Soon is barren, her husband takes on Kyung-Ja as his second wife to ensure the family line. At first the two women fight constantly but they eventually learn to love one another. When Kyung-Ja has a son, they feel blessed and happy. But unpredictable tragedies strike, taking their lives into separate hardships and directions.