After breaking up with his fiancee, Leonard Kraditor (Joaquin Phoenix) returns to live in his parent’s modest apartment in Brighton Beach. Believing that this will help him to overcome the sentimental crisis, Ruth (Isabella Rossellini) and Reuben Kraditor (Moni Moshonov) introduce him to Sandra Cohen (Vinessa Shaw), the daughter of a wealthy businessman, with whom Leonard’s father hopes to conclude a partnership. Sandra is a young, calm, open and uncomplicated Jewish, who is interested in a possible marriage with Leonard. She promises him a stable and orderly life. The situation complicates when Leonard meets his new neighbor, Michelle Rausch (Gwyneth Paltrow), who is inappropriate for him, but from whom he is irresistibly attracted. Leonard is forced to make a difficult choice between Sandra and Michelle.