After being busted for a repeat offense of stealing and joyriding a car, young Cherif (Zinedine Benchenine) is saved from a juvenile detention sentence when his mother (Marina Fois, POLISSE) arranges for him to stay with his aunt and uncle (DECLARATION OF WAR's Brigitte Sy and THE BIG BLUE's Jean-Marc Barr) in Strasbourg and enroll in a local vocational school and reconcile with his estranged father Farid (Ramzy Bedia, DON'T DIE TOO HARD!) who lives nearby with his pregnant new wife (Sophie Cattani, TOMBOY). Cherif feels imprisoned his uncle's home until his straight-laced cousin Thomas (Emile Berling, SUMMER HOURS) sneaks out with him and reveals that he is part of a gang of taggers known as ORK executing collaborative works of art/vandalism by night. They are however overshadowed by the even more impressive art of lone wolf "Vandal" who records his police-flaunting exploits as he hits premium spots all over the town. At first, Cherif serves as lookout to the taggers and then junior collaborator. At the school, Cherif gets into fights with fellow (white) students, but strikes up a friendship and growing attraction to tomboyish but mature Elodie (Chloe Lecerf). When he attempts to share his new-found passion with Elodie, however, he alienates himself from her and his friends who are wary of strangers who might snitch on them. During a visit home, Cherif feels himself growing more distanced from his little brother who is looking to his mother's new boyfriend as a father figure. When Cherif believes he has discovered the lair of "Vandal", he uses it as a way to get back into the group; but things take a tragic turn and Cherif is left with the choice to run away or reinvent himself.