The film opens with Theresa, a Lebanese woman portrayed by Julia Kassar, as she tastes pickles but quickly discards them upon discovering they were prepared by a Syrian refugee. Upon returning home, she begins making arrangements for her daughter Ghada's engagement, engaging in imagined conversations with her deceased brother's photograph. This brother tragically lost his life in a bomb attack during the Lebanese-Syrian conflict, a shadow that looms over her family.
In the meantime, Theresa's neighbor Solange chats with Marwan, played by Said Serhan, Ghada's ex-boyfriend, who remains oblivious to the engagement and has purchased a ring to propose to Ghada when she returns from Dubai. Meanwhile, Maurice, Theresa's husband and the town's mayor, is seen with another woman, who expresses her frustration over his constant excuses.
As anticipation builds, Samer, portrayed by Jaber Jokhadar, along with his parents, travels to Ghada’s home, discussing their Syrian background amidst border tensions. When Ghada finally returns from Dubai, Maurice, despite his reservations, avoids mentioning Samer's Syrian heritage to Theresa. The truth comes to light when Theresa recognizes Samer's dialect, sending her into a state of shock upon realizing her daughter’s suitor is Syrian.
As Samer and his parents awkwardly await in the living room, unaware of Theresa's prejudices, both Maurice and Ghada attempt to persuade her. However, Theresa concocts a plan to sabotage the engagement by secretly inviting Marwan over to the house. Following a brief conversation between the families, they move outside for some leisure time.
In a twist, Theresa attends Marwan's tango class and brings back a framed photo of him and Ghada dancing, which she plans to unveil later. Back at home, when Samer offers to help Theresa in the kitchen, he mistakenly expresses condolences over her brother's death, which Ghada had misrepresented to him. In a surprising gesture, Theresa gifts Samer her brother’s old watch, hinting at her conflicted feelings.
The lunch scene becomes a pivotal moment in the film, as the two families gather around the table. Riad, Samer’s father, keeps the conversation lively by inquiring about Theresa's brother's travels to Syria. An unexpected moment occurs when Riad sings a well-loved Syrian tune, which evokes smiles from Theresa as it reminds her of her brother.
Tensions flare when Marwan enters the scene and sits next to Ghada, while Samer watches with increasing jealousy. Ghada and Marwan reminisce about their childhood, inciting frustration from Samer, who feels sidelined by her nostalgic recollections. Comments exchanged between Samer and Marwan grow increasingly snappy, with Theresa further igniting the flames by reminiscing about Ghada and Marwan’s past tango partnership. As events unfold, Maurice’s affair with his assistant comes to light, drawing attention from Samer's mother, Nazek played by Nadine Khoury.
When Riad insists on showcasing Ghada and Marwan’s dance, jealousy boils over, leading Samer to claim Ghada for himself. A confrontation escalates into violence when Samer punches Marwan, resulting from an exchange of pointed remarks. The escalating drama unveils a pivotal email from Ghada to Marwan revealing her loneliness, which dramatically reshapes their dynamics.
Following an emotional reckoning, Ghada and Samer reconcile, while Theresa grapples with the consequences of her actions. Realizing she has overstepped, Theresa seeks to apologize to Ghada, and an emotional mother-daughter moment ensues. Ultimately, Theresa comes to terms with her prejudices and accepts Samer, encouraging Ghada to pursue a relationship with him.
The film concludes with Samer and Ghada's wedding, featuring both families uniting in joy. In a powerful act of liberation, Theresa returns her wedding ring to Maurice, symbolizing their separation. The narrative encapsulates a journey of acceptance and healing amidst the complexities of love, family, and cultural divides.
