影片讲述了美国南方农民本德伦为遵守对妻子的承诺,率全家将其遗体运回家乡安葬的“苦难历程”。整整十天的行程灾难重重:大水差点把棺材冲走,后来拉车的骡子被淹死,大火将遗体焚化。结果长子失去了一条脚,老二发了疯,三子失去心爱的马,女儿打胎不成,反被药房伙计奸污,小儿子也没得到向往的小火车,而本德伦却装上了假牙并娶回了一位新太太。Based on the 1930 classic by Faulkner, it is the story of the death of Addie Bundren and her family's quest to honor her wish to be buried in the nearby town of Jefferson.