A young sailor learns that his friend has died of a heroin overdose. He watches the 8mm films he has made of his friend and discovers that he keeps the world at a distance from behind his camera.

The Turkish girl Arzu, a student at a Dutch high school, is chosen to play the role of Juliet in a school-organized theatrical performance of 'Romeo and Juliet'. She becomes deeply obsessed with the role, seeing parallels with her own life. Her parents intend to arrange her marriage to a boy from Turkey whom she has never met. With the rehearsals, Arzu begins to lead a nerve-wracking double life. Her family knows nothing about her theatrical activities, and when her father finally finds out, he pulls her out of school and advances the wedding date of his daughter. However, the school officials manage to convince her parents to let Arzu play her role. The father watches the premiere with mixed feelings and sees himself reflected in the metaphorical mirror...