The film opens with a mysterious figure racing towards a motorway bridge, leading us to meet Lilya Michailova, a young girl suffering from a brutal past. As the narrative unfolds, we learn about her challenging life.
Lilya resides with her mother in a dilapidated apartment in an unnamed former Soviet republic. One day, her mother informs her of an impending move to the United States with her new boyfriend, only to tragically abandon Lilya in the custody of her aunt who seizes her mother’s larger, more comfortable home, forcing Lilya into a cramped, squalid space.
The downward spiral of Lilya's life is marred by a relentless string of humiliations and tragedies. Her close friend, Natasha, suggests a path into prostitution, which Lilya bravely refuses. However, when Natasha is found with money she claims belongs to Lilya, the incident devastates Lilya’s reputation among her peers and community. This culminates in a horrific episode where she becomes the victim of a gang rape perpetrated by acquaintances. Ultimately, desperation drives Lilya into prostitution to survive.
In the midst of her turmoil, a new friendship blossoms with Volodya, a younger boy enduring abuse from his alcoholic father. In a moment of kindness, Lilya gifts Volodya a basketball, but heartbreakingly, his father destroys it. Lilya later meets Andrei, a charming young man who convinces her to escape to Sweden for a better future. Yet, upon their arrival, her dreams turn to nightmares when she is met by a predatory pimp named Witek, who confines and abuses her in a seemingly vacant apartment.
Amid her despair, Volodya, devastated by their separation, takes his own life but transforms into an angel. In this new form, he watches over Lilya, sharing his experiences of heaven while lamenting his premature end. On Christmas, he brings her to the rooftop of their former home, presenting her with the world as a gift, but Lilya, weary and disillusioned, rejects it, stating that the world is cold and uninviting.
After a violent confrontation with Witek, during which Lilya attempts to flee but is brutally beaten, she finally seizes a fleeting opportunity when she escapes through an unlocked door. Terrified of the police, whom she believes to be working for Witek, Lilya bolts through the streets of Malmö, ultimately stopping at the same bridge from the film's beginning. In a heart-wrenching moment, she ignores Volodya's angelic pleas and leaps to her death.
The climactic ending presents two diverging paths. In one scenario, Lilya is sent back in time, given a second chance to reject Andrei’s offer. Here, she and Volodya appear to embrace a happier existence. In the more poignant conclusion, both Lilya and Volodya are shown as angels, joyfully playing basketball on the roof of a tenement building, symbolizing their eternal bond and freedom from suffering.
