Ela lives in a small provincial town in Poland. Her daily life is stuck in a routine, balancing work and family. But Ela has a dream: Like many young Polish people, Ela, too wants to escape the tristesse of the council housing estate and move West, into a better life.
Janusz, a pawnbroker in his late 40s, is confronted with the sudden death of his estranged wife. To cover up for all his failings, he hires the young prostitute Irena to act as his girlfriend and join him for the funeral. A tale about guilt, abandonment and love.