Esperanza is an aspiring photographer from a quiet neighborhood. Her best friend, Rosa, takes Esperanza to gritty Boyle Heights to meet Al, her boyfriend. Esperanza's eyes open to both the depravity and the beauty of the barrio. Esperanza's naivety with her camera causes a disturbance, endangering everyone's life. After that tragic day, Esperanza must decide what her life will become as she faces the loss of those she loves caused by the art she loves.