The fictional town of Villa Romero is the set upon which the events of Spain's civil war play out. Villa Romero is home to Vandale (Mariangela Melato), a witch, Count Cerralbo (Bento Urago), a powerless land baron, and his four sons. Three of Cerralbo's sons are ruthless sadists who pillage the country side, but the fourth, Goya (Ron Faber), is an artist challenging authority and the church. When Vandale and Goya fall in love they become embroiled in the chaos of war and move ever closer to the doom that awaits Guernica.

The Guernica Tree is a wrenching experience, a headlong exploration of war and humanity. It is a film of shocking power and brutal design and is not recommended for the faint at heart. This is Guernica as only Arrabal can show it.