 Two sisters - Tunisian Jews living in a suburb of Paris - navigate tradition and desire. Laura, 19, a serious student of philosophy, tries to live a life of thought, elevating herself above passion and traditional religion. She finds herself attracted to a Moslem man with whom she works. Matilde, older, is married with four children; she discovers that her husband has a lover. Should she divorce him? Despair sends both women search for wisdom - from an attendant at the mikvah and from their mother. Can either find wisdom or happiness?