In 1920s New York, the life of a young Polish woman, Ewa, takes a drastic turn when she arrives in America with her sister. While her sister is arrested and sent to a sanatorium, Ewa finds herself trapped in a dark and desolate world. With no other option, she begins working at a cabaret run by a shrewd and manipulative promoter named Bruno, who becomes her protector—but at a price. As she delves deeper into this life, Ewa is faced with difficult and morally ambiguous decisions.
Bruno, despite his questionable methods, is drawn to Ewa, but his love is overshadowed by the hostile environment and the struggle for survival. The young woman soon finds herself torn between her desire to escape exploitation and the harsh reality of a system that shows no mercy to the vulnerable. As the shadows of the past pursue her, Ewa longs to reunite with her sister and have a better life, but each decision drives her further from her dream.
The story is a heartbreaking portrayal of the struggle for freedom and dignity in a world that seems to be against you. Through Ewa's struggles, themes of love, betrayal, and the complexity of the human spirit in the face of adversity are explored. Will Ewa be able to find her way to the light, or is she doomed to be a victim in a system that consumes the most fragile among us?