Circa 1962, the film unfolds in a snowy landscape surrounding a convent, where three novice nuns gather around a statue of Christ, signifying their close friendship. One of these nuns, Anna, is unexpectedly summoned by the Mother Superior to visit her long-lost aunt. Despite her initial reluctance—having grown up as an orphan—Anna acquiesces and sets off on a journey to meet her aunt, Wanda, after a brief stop with another family.
Upon arriving at Wanda's upscale apartment, Anna discovers that her aunt is a stern and hardened judge, grappling with her own struggles with alcoholism. Wanda shares family photographs with Anna, revealing a shocking truth—Anna is actually Jewish and was born as Ida. Her real parents were tragically killed during the war, a revelation that Anna finds hard to accept. Wanda insightfully observes Anna’s striking red hair, inherited from her artistic mother, who once created stained glass windows even for cows in their barn.
Driven by a desire to locate her parent's remains, Anna insists on embarking on a quest with Wanda, despite Wanda's insistence that finding them would be impossible, as Jewish victims were buried in scattered locations during the Holocaust. The two set off, with Anna making heartfelt stops at roadside shrines to pray, while Wanda waits in the car, smoking.
Upon reaching the family home, they are met by a new family who dismisses their inquiries. The young wife and baby in the house claim ignorance about the previous owners, frustrating Anna and Wanda. While Anna seeks solace and clarity in prayer at a nearby church, Wanda’s day unfolds differently as she consumes alcohol and seemingly entertains a man. Their contrasting coping mechanisms create a tension in their relationship.
Eventually, they consult the husband of the new family, who reveals that he is aware of the man who sheltered Anna's family during the war. Tensions rise as Wanda interrogates him about this history, leading Anna to wander outside, where she discovers a stained glass window in the barn, a poignant reminder of her past.
As the plot thickens, they pick up a hitchhiker, a saxophone player who piques Anna's interest. Upon arrival in the town, Wanda confronts Anna's father, now hospitalized. The chilling truths unfold as Wanda implies that this man is responsible for the deaths of Anna’s family. Anna and Wanda share an uneasy room, where the rift between Anna's pious devotion and Wanda's cynical worldview grows, leading to confrontational discussions about virtue and sacrifice.
At a local party, Anna declines to join the festivities, highlighting her struggle between her sheltered life and her innate desires. In a moment of desperation, Anna encounters the hostile husband, who offers to reveal the burial site of her parents in exchange for her relinquishing rights to the house their family once lived in. Anna agrees, leading them into a murky forest where the chilling truth of her family's demise is uncovered.
It is revealed that the husband, not his father, murdered Anna’s parents and that the boy he killed is none other than Wanda's son. The emotional weight of this revelation leads to a solemn burial of their remains in a family plot, marking a pivotal moment in both women’s lives. With the weight of her past heavy on her heart, Anna returns to the convent, preparing to take her vows, yet feeling an internal conflict as she begins to recognize her own desires.
On the eve of her final ceremony, in a moment of introspection at the Christ statue, Anna confesses to God her uncertainty about taking her vows. As the ceremony unfolds, Anna finds herself unable to suppress her emotions. Meanwhile, Wanda appears to continue her life, moving about her apartment until a tragic accident occurs, her life ending abruptly.
As Anna attends her aunt’s funeral, she grapples with her identity and newfound freedom. In a bold act of defiance, she explores her aunt’s former lifestyle, indulging in drinking and smoking, and eventually seeks out the sax player. Their passionate encounter leads to a proposition of a new life together, including thoughts of domestic bliss.
Yet in the morning, Anna returns to her roots, putting her veil back on and embarking on a path towards the convent once more. As she walks down a snowy road, she captures a sense of longing and resolution, leaving viewers contemplating the complex interplay of identity, choice, and heritage.
