Belleville. A working-class parisian neighbourhood. For two years, Nadia has been living alone with her son, Samy, 15 years old. She teaches french to chinese prostitutes in an association. Committed to her work, she gets close to one of her students, Mei, who is saving money to make his son travel to France. But one night, Mei is arrested by the police and risks expulsion. Nadia will do whatever it takes to protect her, even if her son Samy gets farther.