In a small Spanish town at the turn of the century, 12-year-old Pepe (Jorge Sanz) has problems in school but no difficulty loving Valentina (Paloma Gomez). He dresses in his best clothes to meet her, proves his courage in a foolhardy gun incident, and writes poetry for her. Pepe's father is not impressed, but the town priest (Anthony Quinn) sees behind the boy's actions a sturdy, independent and sensitive soul worthy of becoming "a hero, a saint or a poet."

Antonio Jose Betancor directs this Spanish film, which is adapted from a novel by Ramon J. Sener. The bittersweet tale of Pepe's struggles as a youth is given a context when we learn of his courage in the Spanish civil war. We and Valentina look at his childhood and recognize in the dance of his dreams, mischievousness, loyalty and rebellion the makings of a man. Valentina is a slow-paced and lyrical film.