The lust for power, land and sex run amok in this off-kilter, comedic look at Brazilian history. The film opens on a rocky Scottish promontory where a bekilted young man begins telling the wide-eyed 10-year old Yolanda an exotic tale of the exploits of 18th-century bratty Spanish princess Carlota Joaquina who journeys to Portugal to marry prince Don Joao. The 10-year old princess is not impressed by the sedate court and her cowardly husband. Years pass, and she grows up, taking many different lovers along the way. In 1808, she and Don Joao are forced to sail to Brazil by the invader Napoleon. Don Joao chooses Rio de Janiero to set up his new court. By this time, Carlota has developed a limp and grown a moustache, but this does not stop her from continuing to have many affairs. She ends up falling in love with Fernando Leao, a rakish black fellow. Joaquina dreams of becoming Queen of the Amazon, but cannot because her husband is afraid to give her too much power. Upon their return to Portugal, their son Pedro fights for Brazil's independence and becomes the country's first emperor.