Amos reflects on his early childhood during the British Mandate of Palestine, now known as Israel, with his devoted mother, Fania, and father, Arieh. Immigrating from Europe, his Ashkenazi Jewish parents navigate the complexities of life in Jerusalem, a harsh desert landscape far from Fania's family in Tel Aviv, where communication is sparse and challenging. As an only child, Amos shares a unique bond with his mother, who often recounts tales from her own youth—many laced with sorrow or violence.
His parents often entrust him to a childless couple, who one day take him to meet a Palestinian Arab friend. They advise Amos to remain quiet to avoid offending their hosts, but in a moment of playfulness on the swing, he accidentally injures the Arab boy. Panic ensues as his father hurriedly contacts the injured boy’s father, assuring him all medical expenses will be covered.
On November 29, 1947, Amos and his family join neighbors to listen to the radio announcement of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181, a pivotal moment proposing the partition of Mandatory Palestine. Overjoyed, his parents celebrate, with Arieh recounting the brutalities faced by his own father at the hands of anti-Semites in Europe. He assures Amos that with a homeland of their own, such hatred would eventually fade. He also comforts Amos, stating that while he may face bullying for being an intellectual, his Jewish identity will never be a reason for mistreatment.
However, soon after, civil war erupts as tensions escalate between Arabs and Jews. Arieh enlists, leaving Amos and other children to contribute by gathering materials for the war. Tragically, one of Fania's friends falls victim to a Palestinian sniper, creating a palpable atmosphere of fear and loss.
Despite the eventual defeat of the Arabs in the war, Fania sinks into a deep depression, struggling with insomnia and loss of appetite. In an effort to shield her pain from friends and family, Amos and Arieh step in, but the burden becomes heavy. After an unsuccessful stint on anti-depressants, Fania momentarily revives her spirited self but ultimately succumbs once more during a meal out, leading to her heartbreaking decision to end her life through an overdose in 1952. In the film, Amos reflects, > "I believe she felt so much pain that she came to see death as a lover she longed to unite with."
In the years that follow, Amos finds a new path on a kibbutz, diligently working towards fulfilling his mother's dream of transforming the barren desert into a thriving landscape. During a visit with his father, a teenager now, Amos shares tales of his new life, yet admits that despite his endeavor to be healthy and rugged, his intellectual nature still prevails, leaving him feeling pale and weak.
As the years pass, an elderly Amos Oz settles down to pen his memoirs, beginning with a heartfelt invocation of the word, "Mother."
