Fegele Abramovich, played by Christina Ricci, is a young Russian Jew who experiences a heartbreaking separation from her father (Oleg Yankovsky) in 1927. As he ventures to America in search of a better life, he promises to send for Fegele and her grandmother. Before his departure, he tenderly sings "Je Crois Entendre Encore" from the Bizet opera Les pêcheurs de perles, a moment that lingers in her memory. Tragically, following her father's departure, the village falls victim to a brutal pogrom, leading to its destruction. With the help of sympathetic neighbors, Fegele narrowly escapes and finds herself onboard a boat headed for Britain, clutching a photograph of her father and a coin gifted by her grandmother.
Upon arrival in England, she is renamed "Susan" by a local official and placed in the care of foster parents. Struggling to navigate her new environment, Susan faces ridicule from her peers, who, unaware of her circumstances, mockingly refer to her as a "gypsy." Language barriers hinder her understanding, but a compassionate teacher, recognizing her talents, encourages Susan to sing and teach her English, allowing her to express herself.
As time goes by, Susan auditions for a coveted role in a singing dance troupe bound for Paris. There, she befriends an older Russian dancer named Lola (Cate Blanchett), and they form a bond living together as roommates. At a glamorous social event, the duo performs alongside a captivating horseman, Cesar (Johnny Depp), who instantly captivates Susan's interest. After their exciting performance, they hear a beautiful tenor voice inside, which belongs to Dante (John Turturro), an Italian opera singer who also catches Lola’s eye. The relationship between Lola and Dante blossoms as she seeks to earn his affection, drawn in by his charm and success. Meanwhile, Susan finds herself being introduced to Cesar's close-knit community, deepening her connection with him.
Trouble arises as Dante discovers Susan's Jewish background when he stumbles upon her father's photograph during a deceitful visit to her apartment after spending time with Lola. An elderly Jewish neighbor, Madame Goldstein (Miriam Karlin), warns Susan of the impending peril as Nazi threats loom ominously on the horizon. With the German invasion of France, a frantic exodus begins, as many, including Jews, attempt to escape the looming terror. The opera show, once vibrant with spectators, begins to empty, leaving only Susan and Dante among the performers. When Dante attempts to pursue Susan romantically, she firmly rejects him, igniting his ire against her heritage and her relationship with Cesar.
In a tense confrontation, it becomes clear that both personal and political tensions are spiraling out of control. Felix Perlman (Harry Dean Stanton), who manages the opera company, steps in to defend Susan, reminding Dante that, as an Italian in a precarious position in Paris, he too faces threats should Mussolini ally with the Nazis. As the atmosphere grows increasingly tense, Perlman decides to shut down the show, just as the Nazis breach the city limits the following day.
Reluctantly thrust back into the role of minstrel, Dante's jealousy propels him to betray Susan to a German officer. Lola, realizing the danger surrounding Susan, urges her to leave Paris. With excitement, Lola arranges a passage on an ocean liner to escape to America, a plan that meets with cataclysmic events. On the night of their departure, tragedy strikes when the Nazis attack Cesar's Romani village, killing a child, and making the need for Susan to flee all the more urgent. Despite her love for Cesar and her desire to stay and fight alongside him, he insists that her safety must come first.
As fate would have it, the ocean liner they board is tragically torpedoed during transit, claiming Lola's life in the chaos. Susan miraculously survives and is brought to New York, where her search for her father commences. In her quest, she learns that he has altered his identity, abandoned his singing career, and built a new life out west, believing his family perished in the horrific attack on their village.
When Susan finally arrives in Hollywood, she confronts the reality of her father's new life, including a new family and a terminal illness. Overcoming her feelings of abandonment, she walks past his new wife and children waiting in the hallway, making her way into his hospital room. As he recognizes her, his face lights up with joy. Filled with emotion, she sits beside him and sings "Je Crois Entendre Encore" in Yiddish, bringing tears to both of their eyes as they reconnect amidst the trials and tribulations of their tumultuous past.
