Raimunda (Penélope Cruz) lives and works in Madrid with her husband Paco and their daughter, Paula. Raimunda's sister, Sole (Lola Dueñas), lives nearby. The two sisters miss their mother, Irene (Carmen Maura), who died several years ago in a house fire along with their father. When a former neighbor from their hometown reports that she has seen the ghost of Irene, the daughters do not believe her. After a murder and a family tragedy, however, Irene's spirit materializes around her daughters to comfort them.