The Pasha mocks the farmers and workers of his estate, who suffer from his greed and are incited against him by Amin, who lives in the coal-burning district. Later, Amin's father is killed by unknown persons. At the same time, Loza, Amin's fiancée, is looking forward to getting rich; therefore, she surrenders to the Pasha, who refuses to marry her and delays giving her any part of his property. The Pasha fabricates a charge of possessing counterfeit currency against Amin, who flees and discovers that the Pasha is behind his father's murder and the charge attributed to him. He is also surprised by Loza's relationship with the Pasha, so he decides to take revenge.

When Shaikhon marries Dalal, a belly dancer, they are blessed with two kids. Shaikhon steals Dalal's money to buy the club where she works. Dalal gets back at him and reports him to the police who have him imprisoned. When he comes out of prison full of vengeance, his past ghosts still haunt him.

The film describes the political and economical corruption in 70s’ Egypt, through the relationship between a powerful man and his wife’s ex-fiance.

Set against the backdrop of the 1967 Six-Day War, the movie adaptation of Naguib Mahfouz's novel follows the escapist, drug-fueled riverboat meetings of a group of frustrated Egyptians from various walks of life.