Maria, traumatized by her previous unsuccessful forays into love, comes to the conclusion that to love is to suffer. She relocates from a village in Brazil to Geneva, Switzerland hoping to attract fame and fortune by modelling. However, when the harshness of reality strikes her, she realises her dreams are moot. Despair and dwindling savings lead her to accept 1000 Francs from an Arab man, in return for a night of sexual favours. Tempted by the relatively easy source of considerable money, she begins working in a brothel in Geneva's premier red-light district, Rue de Berne. At the brothel, she makes a few friends that teach her the tricks of the trade. She flourishes at her new job, carefully keeping her emotions at bay with clients. Over time, she becomes a professional. Not only is she adept at her job, but she is capable of evoking a feeling of trust and camaraderie with her clients. They open up to her and discuss their problems with her on a frequent basis. Her notions about love are disrupted the day she meets Ralf, a young painter. He claims to see her ‘inner light' and she begins to fall in love with him.