After three decades of hiding his feminine impulses, renowned Spanish dancer Manuel Liñán comes out to challenge convention by pursuing his love of performing flamenco - dressed as a woman.

Departures tells the story of Giralda, an undertaker who accompanies deceased human beings into their afterlife. Interpreted with the means of Spanish flamenco dance and music, and set at an old East German ship canal lift, the film creates an associative fusion between Northern and Southern Europe, movement and silence, farewell and eternity.

Yelda del Carmen leaves her Cuban homeland for Montreal, where she must rebuild her dance career from scratch. Before fully dedicating herself to her dance aspirations, she undertakes a unique climbing adventure in Cuba. She aims to leave a lasting imprint on history by becoming the first Cuban woman to conquer three mythical ascents.