The plot of Men of Maize unfolds around the story of an Indigenous people of Guatemala whose lands are invaded by colonizers. The arrogance and exploitation of the plantation owners drive a local leader, Gaspar Ilom, to lead an uprising. Another storyline centers on Nicho, a postman who descends into the underworld in search of his missing wife, where he encounters a guardian spirit — a coyote — meant to guide him. These narratives subtly influence one another, interweaving and branching into neighboring tales.
Men of Maize blends Guatemalan legends with dramatic narratives rooted in reality: you will witness humans transforming into animals, follow an herbalist — a keeper of healing secrets — and learn the story of a woman who is a dual being, defined by both escape and pursuit.
Miguel Ángel Asturias created a monumental epic — an ode to the great culture and literature of the Maya, and at the same time a gripping tale about the consequences of colonial conquest and a vivid portrait of a society undergoing the destructive process of acculturation.