The film is a harsh critique of the institutional systems meant to protect children. Joseph and Chloé bounce from one care home to another, each one as alienating and inadequate as the last, offering no real hope or healing.

Their endless flight for stability becomes increasingly desperate. After a violent incident, Joseph flees again with Chloé, and they eventually break into a house Chloé believes is theirs. Joseph, fearing this new environment will replace him, burns the house down. The police arrive, and the siblings are separated, with Joseph dragged away and Chloé placed in a psychiatric facility. Desperate, Joseph escapes and frees Chloé, leading to a final, violent confrontation with the police. The film ends on a note of tragic ambiguity, making it a deeply affecting experience.