Clean

Emily Wang and Lee Hauser arrive in Hamilton, Canada, to attend Metric's performance. A confrontation in their motel room follows, and Emily uses heroin before sleeping in her car. The tension of their relationship sets the stage for the tragedy to come.

The next morning, Lee Hauser is found dead from a drug overdose. The Ontario Provincial Police begin an investigation into the death. Emily is arrested when the police find heroin in her bag after she tries to force her way into the motel room.

Emily spends six months in jail following her arrest. Upon release, custody of Jay is awarded to Lee's parents, separating mother and son. She resolves to return to Paris to rebuild her life.

Before leaving Canada, Emily briefly meets Albrecht, Lee's father, who tells her he would prefer that she not see Jay for a few years. The conversation underscores the ongoing parental tensions around Jay.

In Paris, Emily begins work in a Chinese restaurant owned by relatives, but she does not enjoy it. She has become addicted to methadone and relies on friends for prescriptions. The move marks a difficult, downward period in her life.

Lee's mother Rosemary falls ill, and she and Albrecht travel to London with Jay for medical treatment. During the trip, plans are made to introduce Jay to Emily, though this is complicated by his view of his father's death.

Jay has been told by his grandmother that Emily was responsible for his father's death, so he does not want to meet her. This creates emotional distance and tension around Emily's attempts to reconnect with him.

Emily resolves to get clean in order to spend time with Jay. She stops taking methadone and prepares for Jay's arrival. This marks a turning point as she takes control of her recovery.

When Jay finally meets her, she takes him to a zoo and explains her relationship with his father and why they took drugs. The meeting becomes a crucial turning point in their relationship, offering a chance at reconciliation.

Emily has become a singer, and an opportunity arises from meeting a fellow musician in prison. She must weigh this chance against her desire to stay clean and be a mother to Jay.

Facing the choices ahead, Emily must decide whether to pursue the singing opportunity, continue her recovery, and rebuild her relationship with Jay, or pursue other paths. The film lingers on this moment of decision as her life story approaches its close.

In the final arc, Emily's efforts to reconcile with Jay and secure a stable life converge. The film leaves their future deliberately open, underscoring themes of redemption and the costs of addiction.