少女林晓阳(杨林 饰)爱看漫画,常幻想自己是细川智荣子少女漫画《尼罗河女儿》主角。她生活在繁华的台北,白天在肯德基当店员,晚上在夜校读书。晓阳与家人住在一座简陋的平房里,祖父(李天禄 饰)是个风趣的老头。父亲(崔福生 饰)在嘉义当员警,常年在外执勤。母亲去世后,晓阳肩负起母亲的职责,照顾上了年纪的父亲及上学的妹妹,并整天为哥哥担心。
哥哥(高捷 饰)与朋友合开一家餐厅,白天工作,晚上当小偷,却能照顾到家人。父亲和哥哥爆发冲突时,晓阳总是站在哥哥一边。她暗恋上哥哥的朋友阿三,却不知阿三爱着别人。种种事实让她感到气愤、悲伤和绝望,并在遭受打击后成熟清醒。。St. Jude Square is a neighborhood living in fear and despair. The dueling gangs of local kingpins Dash and Antuan terrorize the streets and the citizens live without a shred of hope... until mysterious stranger Ryan Hong (Cung Le) arrives in town. He begins to play one gang against the other using his unparalleled martial arts skills, and by calling on the teachings of his brilliant mentor Tiano (Jean-Claude Van Damme) to find the strength to battle back. However, just as he begins to bring the community under control, Hong is confronted by Mr. V, the town's ruthless and corrupt police chief. At first Mr. V is impressed by Hong's skill, but soon sees Hong as a threat to his regime, and the two warriors are locked in a head-to-head battle, pitting the fear and corruption of Mr. V's regime versus the new beginning Hong represents for the people of St. Jude Square.。