Hamidah works in a ship and plans to marry her cousin, Ragab, but the latter is forced to leave for a long period. While he is away, Hamidah falls in love with a wealthy man. Upon his return, Ragab finds out about her relationship , but he will do anything in order to win the woman back.

In this acclaimed melodrama, the tempestuous waters of Alexandria play host to the tensions between individuality and community. The critique of inequality, and the tug-of-war between loyalty and betrayal, is intensified by the volatile pairing of real-life couple Omar Sharif and Faten Hamama.