A new tenant appears in an old Parisian house - a delightful young actress from Australia. Sarah's free habits annoy the tenants: she has sex too loudly and never closes the front door.

And only Sarah's neighbor, the wise old Chinese Zao, knows that Sara is deeply unhappy, so much so that she intends to commit suicide. Fascinated by the despair and passion of his new acquaintance, Monsieur Zao offers her a unique cure for melancholy: magical Chinese treats and friendly attention.

Sarah soon becomes his idol, mysterious and dangerous ...