Chronicling several significant events in their troubled relationship, "Kindling" is comprised of three individual vignettes that follow Mary's experiences with her mother and her mother's alcoholism.

In Margate, England, life is not easy for teenager Sarah Taylor, between being bullied at school, being exploited by a dominant boss and having to take care of her depressive mother and her two siblings. But Sarah finds a way to channel her growing despair and fight adversity when her drama teacher gives her a new purpose.