Maria Candelaria

Maria, a simple flower seller who hopes to marry her sweetheart, Lorenzo, is harassed by the villagers of her community in the floating gardens of Xochimilco for being the daughter of a fallen woman -- a prostitute. A visiting artist struck by her Indian beauty which he says embodies the purity of the Mexican race, asks Maria to pose for a painting. Although he superimposes her head on the body of another model, the villagers are outraged by the nude painting that results, and take violent action against Maria.