Umay (Sibel Kekilli), 25, is torn between two cultures when she leaves her abusive husband and takes their young son, Cem (Nizam Schiller), from Istanbul to her family home in Germany. Seeking refuge with her parents, Umay hopes to start anew, but her family disapproves. She finds work in a restaurant and falls in love with a German co-worker, Stipe (Florian Lukas), who happily welcomes her and Cem into his life, but turmoil erupts when Umay's family decides to return Cem to his father.