In this film, a teenage Irish Catholic girl, Goretti (Emer McCourt) falls in love as only a 15-year-old can, and is carried away by the power of her feelings. Innocent teenage worries over boyfriends, girlfriends, and peer standing provide a context for Goretti's life before she falls in love. She soon defies the restrictions of her upbringing, and, because contraception is forbidden by her religious belief, she discovers that she is pregnant. Her lover cannot face the responsibility of fatherhood -- he writes her so from prison, where he was sent by the British soldiers after being accused of a crime he did not commit. Abortion is out of the question. Although Goretti has the support of her best friend and confidant, a downward spiral begins as she cannot face her Catholic family with the truth of her condition. Goretti seems to be waging a losing battle against a culture itself in conflict, as the presence of the British soldiers makes clear. This excellent exploration of a young girl's broader identity assumes an increasingly bleak and dark mood, as the story of Goretti unfolds on all levels.