When the rebellious son of an NGO worker refuses to take an exam and declares he won’t leave his room, his worried mother seeks assistance from one of her clients, a Cuban exile, to help guide her son. Gonzalo has chosen to quit school, and his mother, Ana, is uncertain about how to persuade him that he’s making a significant error. Ana’s client, Carlos, a Cuban exile who earns his living by selling cigars and art on the black market, becomes aware of Ana’s predicament. He enlists the help of Mikel, a recently released convict, to teach Gonzalo chess. The hope is that by mastering the game, Gonzalo might find a way to re-engage with life. As the chess lessons progress, each character discovers that to truly move forward, they must first liberate themselves from the constraints that prevent them from being their authentic selves.