Alpha

Alpha is a 13-year-old rebellious teenager living with her single unnamed mother of Berber origin somewhere in coastal France. At an earlier point in time a strange new contagious blood-borne disease begins to spread. Alpha’s mother is a doctor and works in a ward with patients who are slowly turning into marble. The film follows both timelines concurrently.

In the present Alpha receives a stick and poke tattoo at a party with her friend Adrien. When Alpha's tattoo becomes infected, her mother becomes concerned that her daughter may have the strange disease. Alpha begins to have panic attacks.

Alpha’s uncle Amin moves into his sister's home so she can take care of him while he fights to get off of heroin. Amin begins reconnecting with his niece.

Meanwhile, sometime in the past, the hospital where Alpha's mother works has run out of beds and begins turning sick people away. Alpha’s mother helps some people who have received medical care. At home, Amin overdoses and is resuscitated by Alpha’s mother. Alpha’s grandmother believes the “Red Wind” is causing his condition.

In the present, Alpha is the target of bullying at school; she also begins a secret affair with Adrien, kissing him in a bathroom. Two weeks pass since Alpha’s tattoo, and her mother takes her to the hospital for blood testing. While waiting to take her blood test, Alpha encounters her English teacher. The English teacher is with his boyfriend, who is infected with the disease and has already partially turned to stone. Students begin to spread rumors that Alpha has the mysterious disease. Alpha’s bullying continues. Adrien accuses Alpha of giving him the disease.

Alpha and her mother and uncle Amin attend a family gathering. Amin sneaks away to buy heroin and overdoses. Alpha’s mother is able to successfully resuscitate him, again. At school, the bullying of Alpha climaxes during a swimming lesson. Alpha's mother is brought in for a meeting by the school principal, who demands a negative test result following the pressure of several parents. Alpha returns to school, while her English teacher arrives late and cries during class.

After Alpha’s test come back negative, Alpha's mother continues to fixate on the possibility of her daughter’s contagion. Alpha’s mother makes a cut on her finger and exchanges blood with her daughter to ensure they will have the same fate. Alpha’s mother gets into a fight with Amin about his addiction, the mysterious disease and her treatment of Alpha.

In the past, Amin has the mysterious disease and is examined by Alpha’s mother. Alpha’s mother accidentally injures Amin while taking a sample, and red dust begins to pour uncontrollably from Amin’s wound.

In the present, Alpha’s mother forbids Alpha from leaving her room, locking her indoors with her uncle Amin who is still going through withdrawals. Alpha’s panic attacks become more frequent. Amin helps Alpha sneak out of the house. Amin brings Alpha to a nightclub filled with people suffering from the mystery disease. The two celebrate their rebellion together, until Amin abandons Alpha to get high.

Alpha walks alone to Adrien’s house. The two undress with the intention of having sex. Alpha sees that Adrien has a matching tattoo to hers, and learns that he was also tattooed at the same party that she was. Alpha is upset with Adrien for accusing her of giving him the disease and leaves. Both have tested negative.

Alpha catches a bus and finds her uncle Amin already onboard. Amin asks Alpha to promise him that she will prevent him from being resuscitated if he overdoses again. The two get off at a beachside stop and Amin leaves Alpha again to try to buy heroin.

In the past, Alpha’s mother calls home from the hospital and her mother chastises her for leaving a young Alpha in Amin's care. She does not know where Amin or Alpha are.

In the present Alpha finds Amin overdosing and runs to a nearby motel to call her mother.

Simultaneously in the past and present, Alpha’s mother arrives at the motel to meet her daughter. In the past, she tells a young Alpha to stay in the bathroom while she helps her brother commit suicide by overdose to avoid the pain of the disease. As Amin begins to fall unconscious, she yells for the young Alpha to give her her bag. In the present, Alpha tells her mother that she has promised to allow Amin to die peacefully. In the past, her mother pulls the bag out of young Alpha’s arms and uses a needle filled with adrenaline to resuscitate Amin.

Amin’s disease progresses, ultimately leading to his death during Alpha's early childhood. Amin's existence in the present day is revealed to be a phantom of Alpha’s familial trauma.

In the present, Alpha’s mother wakes up in the motel and Alpha tells her that Amin cannot be allowed to come home with them. Alpha’s mother agrees and the two leave to drive Amin home. A red dust storm envelopes the streets as they drive. The three of them get out of the car as the wind whips red dust into the air. Alpha’s mother walks Amin to the door while Alpha watches, dust coating her face. Amin disintegrates in the wind, and Alpha’s mother collapses with grief. Alpha watches.