The film centers on four-year-old Ponette (Victoire Thivisol), who is coming to terms with the death of her mother in a car crash.

Following her mother's death, Ponette's father (Xavier Beauvois) leaves the young girl with her Aunt Claire (Claire Nebout), and her cousins Matiaz (Matiaz Bureau Caton) and Delphine (Delphine Schiltz).

[2] Ponette becomes increasingly withdrawn, and spends most of her time waiting for her mother to come back.

In the end, Ponette visits a cemetery and cries for her mother, who suddenly appears to comfort her and ask her to live her life and not be sad all the time.

Her mother (played by Marie Trintignant) says she cannot keep coming back, so Ponette must move on and go be happy with her father.