A young woman finds herself alone in her bed, covered in visible bruises and injuries on her hips and upper inner thighs—scarring reminders of a harrowing sexual assault. While she is told these wounds stem from either ghosts or the wild depths of her imagination, this deeply concerning narrative is a pervasive theme within the Mennonite colony, persisting for several years.
In 2010, the women and girls of this isolated community uncover a shocking truth: the men have been administering livestock tranquilizers to subdue and sexually attack them. Following this revelation, the assailants are detained and sent to a nearby city for their own safety as the women take matters into their own hands and retaliate. Most of the colony's men leave to manage their bail, thus leaving the women to contemplate their next move over a span of two long days. They face a harsh ultimatum to either forgive their aggressors or abandon their home altogether.
In a bid to reach a consensus, they convene a plebiscite to determine their course of action: remain passive, take a stand and fight, or depart. An impasse emerges, as the votes for fighting and leaving are evenly split. Eleven women congregate in a hayloft to deliberate further; among them is Scarface Janz (played by Frances McDormand), who ultimately grows frustrated with the deliberations, choosing to depart with her hesitant daughter Anna (Kira Guloien) and resistant granddaughter Helena (Shayla Brown). With only 24 hours to make a decision, Janz warns that failing to forgive may lead to their excommunication and eventual loss of their place in heaven.
Joining the women is August (Ben Whishaw), the colony's schoolteacher and one of the only two remaining men. He volunteers to document their discussions, as literacy is a skill unknown among these women. The second man, Melvin (August Winter), a transgender individual who has refrained from speaking after suffering an assault, tends to the children, warning the women of any external threats.
Previously known as Neitje (Liv McNeil), Melvin's painful past includes being assaulted by her own brother and suffering a miscarriage. One of the women, Salome (portrayed by Claire Foy), recently returned from a treacherous journey to secure antibiotics for her daughter, who has been a victim of these heinous acts. She is determined to stay and fight, a sentiment shared by Mejal (Michelle McLeod). The arduous trip to the nearest mobile clinic required Salome to travel for a day and a half with her daughter on her back.
Ona (played by Rooney Mara), pregnant from a brutal assault, also advocates for resistance, envisioning a future where women can redefine the rules of the colony to ensure equality, including education for girls and exposure to the outside world. Mariche (portrayed by Jessie Buckley), however, argues that forgiveness should be prioritized. Ona asserts that the oppression of women is a direct result of the men's actions; she adds a moment of levity to the tense atmosphere with a suggestion that perhaps the men could be expelled entirely, a thought that draws a collective laugh from the group.
To navigate their increasingly complex discussion, Ona proposes that August compile two distinct documents outlining the pros and cons of both leaving and staying. Staying would mean retaining familiarity while leaving entails leaving behind everything they know.
As the 2010 census unfolds, they learn Klaas (Eli Ham), Mariche's abusive husband, will return that evening for further bail money. Tensions rise again, and some women flip their stances, now favoring departure for the promise of safety and new experiences—though parting calls for abandoning their brothers and sons. Debate ensues regarding whether the men should be permitted to follow, entailing the risk of being overwhelmed as they often rely heavily on the women.
Salome is vehement in her desire for vengeance, expressing that she would opt for lethality over leaving her daughter vulnerable once more. Yet, she is reminded of their core beliefs by Agata (Judith Ivey), revealing the struggle between their principles and their emotions. Meanwhile, Greta (Sheila McCarthy) frames leaving as a necessary step toward achieving forgiveness, further persuading the group.
Ultimately, it is Mariche who stands alone in opposition. The discussions reveal her trauma-induced forgiveness of her husband, spurred by Greta's encouragement. After an apology from Greta, Mariche aligns with the others' decision to leave.
The group's written reasons for departing—safeguarding their children, adhering firmly to their faith, and embracing freedom of thought—are meticulously documented by August. They finalize plans to take some boys aged 15 and younger along, making exceptions for those above twelve, as worries linger about their potential for harm.
As dawn breaks, they quietly prepare to vanish without a trace from Klaas's watchful eye. August instructs Ona on map reading as her anxiety for their future escalates. Unfortunately, Mariche's homecoming results in a brutal confrontation with Klaas, ending in her sustaining severe injuries.
Before their departure, August takes the brave step of publicly declaring both his affection for Ona and his desire to aid the women through the creation of a map. However, unforeseen complications arise when Melvin informs Salome that her teenage son Aaron (Nathaniel McParland) is missing. Although he is located, he refuses to join them, prompting Salome to resort to tranquilization to enforce compliance. She confides this decision solely to August, who understands without judgment. As they stealthily leave the colony behind, Helena and Anna join the caravan while Scarface Janz and August watch on with a mix of emotions as the women begin their new journey toward an uncertain yet hopeful future.
