K., a wildly independent 17-year-old with piercings and dreadlocks, ran away from her family at age 15 to escape the burden of living with her unemployed parents. A., a charismatic 18-year-old, ran away from home at the age of 13 because of the pressures her family forced upon her. T. struggled with her strict Haredi family, dropped out of religious school and ran away from home.
The three girls spend years on the streets until the Israeli Government intervenes. With their lives in disarray and nowhere else to turn, these runaways have no choice but to comply with the welfare authorities’ decision to have them sent to the “Garden of Eden” farm.
Here, the three girls join others and are put to work on the farm. They cook, clean, paint, plant trees, and care for the livestock. In their spare time, the girls socialize with their peers and study to complete their high school education.
Amidst this, A. continues to struggle with her alcoholism. As her situation deteriorates, Nir gives her an ultimatum; she must either stop drinking or leave the farm. Meanwhile, K. struggles with the staff as she breaks the rules and encourages others to do the same. When suspected of possible drug possession, she faces the prospect of going to a juvenile detention center. Distraught by such a threat, she flees to the United States for a few months in an unsuccessful attempt to escape her problems. Difficult decisions must be made for each sensitive situation– but will these choices help the girls escape to liberated independence, or trap them further in a life of drugs and regrets?
This film explores the fragile healing process that at-risk adolescents undergo in a rehabilitative environment. Living in an isolated location provides K., A., and T. with the necessary space to reevaluate their lives. The desert beauty, independent lifestyle, and satisfying work help these youths to re-ignites a sense of purpose in their lives. The Garden of Eden farm motivates them to heal more effectively than any other rehabilitation center in Israel.