Juliette gives piano lessons in a small provincial town. She lives alone with her daughter, Julie, a young, prodigiously talented musician. Juliette, who is also her teacher, is the only one who knows of her daughter’s talents. Although she dearly loves her daughter, Julie’s talents provide a constant reminder to Juliette of her own limits. Julie is everything that Juliette has always dreamed of being, and this image of perfection, achieved with obscene ease, soon becomes more than Juliette can bear.
A professional musician passing through town overhears Julie playing one day and mistakes her for Juliette – an illusion that Juliette doesn’t rectify. Lies become reality as mother assumes her daughter’s history and talent. She slowly loses all grip on reality, tipping into complete fantasy and putting Julie’s life in danger.