1989. A small village in Eastern Sri Lanka. After her husband is abducted, tortured and murdered by government soldiers, Kusum has a struggle on her hands to look after her eight children and mother-in-law all by herself. After a series of unsuccessful odd jobs, in which she is constantly abused both physically and sexually, Kusum falls into prostitution. She is soon arrested in a brothel, by the police. When news of what has befallen their mother reaches school, the children are expelled...