Young Katerina Vassos is full of hope and expectation when her boat pulls in to Sydney Harbour in the 1950s. She is soon devastated to learn that she's been abandoned by her mother. Together she and her father try to stay strong, but they struggle to be accepted in a strange and hostile new land.

Years on, now a beautiful and strong woman, Kate is swept into a passionate love affair, while the Vietnam War rages and protest marches fill Australian streets. In the years that follow, she comes to know both joy and tragedy.

Inspired by her own experience as a migrant, Kate becomes a legal advocate for refugees. Forced to confront questions of life and death, freedom and captivity, these choices and one unforgettable young boy â will change her life forever.