When Pajtshiab, a young and ambitious Hmong girl, finds herself forced into a marriage set up by her ex-boyfriend, Kub, she excuses the set up as an act of love to rid any questions that arise about the incident. She quickly finds herself helpless and controlled in a brutal marriage that takes a stab at her self-worth.

Battling through silence and isolation, just as Pajtshiab finds the courage to escape this environment, she’s challenged with more accusations that will put her under the scrutiny of judgmental eyes around her. How can she keep her spirit alive when the people closest to her will not let her forget the identity and reputation they have built for her? Pajtshiab is convinced that she will never be able to recover from her past nor find love again.

Defenseless, Pajtshiab befriends Koobmeej and begins to understand how she is letting her history with domestic abuse control her. It is not until she starts making sense of her parents past, that she’ll discover a deeper connection with her mother and the power she needs to achieve to end the cycles of victimization. Under the Bridge is a film about emotional and physical control and the strength to show that power is more than raising a fist.