David Lurie, a Cape Town university professor, faces disgrace after a scandalous affair with one of his students. Stripped of his position and shunned by society, he seeks refuge on his daughter Lucy's remote farm. In the rural countryside, David hopes to find solace and redemption by assisting Lucy with her small horticultural operation. However, tensions between them rise as he struggles to adapt to the simplicity and hardships of farm life, while the burden of his past decisions continues to haunt him.

Their fragile peace is shattered when violent intruders attack the farm, leaving both David and Lucy to grapple with the aftermath of the traumatic event. Forced to confront their fears and differing moral landscapes, David and Lucy must navigate the strained father-daughter relationship while dealing with broader societal issues of power, race, and belonging in post-apartheid South Africa. As David attempts to reconcile his desires and wrongdoing amidst the turmoil, the repercussions of their ordeal usher in a period of painful self-examination and change.