In the 1880s, a crowded steamship makes a treacherous journey to Jerusalem. On board, young Yosef Siev is entranced by wild-haired Chana. Their story is told against a backdrop of Ottoman rule, WWI privations, and British Mandatory uprisings. In 1926, their teenage granddaughter enters into a forbidden relationship. Dreaming of a better future, she goes to America, hoping to contribute to her lover's studies in Paris. Conflicts arise over issues of politics, gender inequality, and fidelity.