Portuguese-Canadians Icelia and her ten year old daughter Monica have just moved from the Portuguese neighborhood in Toronto`s inner city to a small basement suite in the outer suburbs following Icelia`s acrimonious break-up with Monica`s father, Vincent. While Icelia tries to make ends meet by doing housekeeping work, her brother Albert, who also lives with them sleeping on their living room sofa, is Monica`s reluctant guardian and chauffeur. "Reluctant" as he would rather sleep or watch videos than take care of his niece. Icelia is unaware that Albert still associates with Vincent in order to receive what he believes are small favors from Vincent. Meanwhile, Monica, often left to her own devices, is a solitary girl whose primary fascination and focus is Catholicism, most specifically its rituals and symbols.