Nalal and Zahia are boy/girl twins growing up in rural Egypt in the 1920s. Zahia has a gorgeous singing voice and from an early age sings Nahal to sleep at night. She begins singing at religious ceremonies and word quickly spreads about her voice. The twins are raised by their domineering (but loving) widowed mother. She hopes to marry Zahia to Achmed, son of a local landowner.

Zahia gains a wider following, singing at weddings across the region. Her uncle brings her to the events, where she goes dressed as a boy. Zahia also works in the back of her mother’s store sorting produce. She befriends Hamdy, another worker in the store. While they aren’t allowed to speak, they pass notes. Hamdy provides Zahia with bits of Western magazines, where she’s drawn to images of Josephine Baker.

As Zahia gains attention as a singer, her mother decides that her marriage prospects are more important and forbids her from singing. Zahia is crushed. While she used to confide in her brother Nahal, he’s become more conservative as he aligns himself with the Achmed.

Hamdy invites her on a risky outing to listen to music on a phonograph at a wealthy neighbors’ home. She impulsively agrees. They listen to a Josephine Baker record and dance, chastely. But they are seen coming out of the house.

When Nahal learns what’s happened, his confrontation with his sister lays bare the conflict between their filial bond and his perception of his family’s honor.