Young Violet considers herself a real American, although she lives not in the USA, but in Shanghai at the beginning of the 20th century, where her beautiful mother, who always has no time for her daughter, runs an establishment called “The Secret Jade Path” - “a flower house ", catering to both Chinese and Western men. The girl, suffering from loneliness, spends her days spying on the courtesans, not knowing that the same fate awaits her, and dreams of finding out at least something about her father. But the fulfillment of this dream sets off a chain of catastrophic events. Violet's world collapses, and she, growing up and subject to harsh circumstances, is forced to create a new one. The moment will come when she will be able to understand her mother...