An enigmatic, beautiful woman plays a key but not easily defined role in the lives of three residents in a remote and tiny New England town. Surrounded by deep forest, the town is one of those places that changes at glacial speed, something that has a pernicious effect on the residents. More of a visual novel than a standard movie, this poetic and spiritual drama takes a backward look at key episodes from the three protagonists' lives. In the first tale a boxer named Champ is overcome by guilt and shame because he blames himself for the death of his manager. To cope, he tries to focus on his unrequited love for Rachel. The second episode centers on Bucyrus, the town mental patient who lost his mind and became violent following the death of his beloved wife. He often vents his irrepressible rage on his son and daughter-in-law and believes that Rachel is the living incarnation of his late spouse. The final segment centers upon the friendship between a recently defrocked lady minister (whose lesbianism was discovered) and the extraordinarily quiet young owner of a local repair shop. To him, the former preacher shares her plans to get revenge by exposing her parishioners for the hypocrites they are. Rachel figures prominently in her scheme.