In the Warsaw ghetto during World War II, Rabbi Adam Heller (Armin Mueller-Stahl) and his family struggle to remain safe and sane. His headstrong son, Paul (Don McKellar), chafes against the humiliations he must endure, but the rabbi cautions him against exploding into violence. Tensions come to a head when the rabbi's daughter, Rachel (Elina Lowensohn), is raped by a Nazi officer. Yet out of this act of violence comes a ray of hope when a soldier comes forward and offers to help her escape.