브라질 출신의 엘레나는 자신의 어머니가 영화배우를 꿈꿨듯이 그녀 역시 같은 꿈을 안고 7살 난 여동생 페트라의 곁을 떠나 뉴욕으로 향한다. 20년이 흐른 뒤, 페트라 역시 배우가 되어 언니 엘레나를 찾으러 뉴욕으로 향한다. 그녀는 몇 되지 않는 단서만을 지닌 채 엘레나를 찾기 위해 뉴욕의 거리를 배회한다. 마침내 페트라는 예기치 못한 장소에서 엘레나를 찾게 되는데…

Elena, a young Brazilian woman, travels to New York with the same dream as her mother, to become a movie actress. She leaves behind her childhood spent in hiding during the years of the military dictatorship. She also leaves Petra, her seven year old sister. Two decades later, Petra also becomes an actress and goes to New York in search of Elena. She only has a few clues about her: home movies, newspaper clippings, a diary and letters. At any moment Petra hopes to find Elena walking in the streets in a silk blouse. Gradually, the features of the two sisters are confused; we no longer know one from the other. When Petra finally finds Elena in an unexpected place, she has to learn to let her go.