A young man (Mohammed Ramadan) travels from Qena to Cairo for work, but the only job he can find is as a painter. He is constantly running into trouble, as he deals both with his extreme poverty and his desire to live a decent life for his mother. His world gets turned upside down when he finds himself way in over his head, and it becomes clear that he must find a way out before it is too late.

In the world of local neighborhoods, a sect of strong people come together to manage the affairs of these neighborhoods. Known as Al-Fetewa, they are ruffians who shoulder the responsibility of the people in their neighborhoods.