16 years-old Lilja lives in a dreary suburb somewhere in the former Soviet Union. Her mother has moved to the States with a new man. Lilja is looking forward to join them, but as no letters or money arrive from her mother, she realizes she’s been abandoned: heartbroken and with no money, Lilja has to move into a flat with no electricity or heating. Her only friend is the 11 years-old boy Volodya, who sometimes is allowed to sleep on her sofa. They hang around together and fantasize about an easier life. Hope arrives when Lilja falls in love with Andrei. He asks her to follow him to Sweden to start a new life. Little Volodya is jealous and suspicious – but Lilja packs her bags. Suddenly she’s sitting on a plane bound to Sweden, not knowing what will happen next...
