Set during the colonization of Australia in 1825, the film follows 21-year-old convict Clare. Having served her time, she is eager to be free of her abusive master, Lieutenant Hawkins. Clare becomes the victim of a harrowing crime by the lieutenant and his cronies. When authorities fail to deliver justice, she decides to pursue Hawkins and enlists the help of a young Aboriginal tracker. As they go, they must learn to find empathy for one another while weighing the true cost of revenge.