Medtem ko se majhni mešetar in vdovec trudi vzgojiti svoji dve hčerki, se ena od njiju zagleda v učitelja angleščine, ki ji pomaga prestajati težavno družinsko življenje.
Coming-of-age story set in the 1950's stars Harvey Keitel as a small-time hustler/dreamer, recently widowed, who tries his best to care for his two daughters, 17-year-old Sonya, and 12-year-old Greta, while Sonya's rapid disulisionment with her father puts her at odds with him more times than nessessary.