Motherwild is an unvarnished journey of the struggle to survive on a violent and dangerous yet loving and alive Montreal working-class street. Set over the course of a year beginning in December 1959, Joey Cantell faces the personal confusion of growing up while attempting to navigate a difficult relationship with his quick-witted, strong-willed, alcoholic Ma and a burgeoning attraction to Celine Lesage, the girl living downstairs in the apartment block who bears a puzzling likeness to his mother and who holds Joey enthralled with her own wild ways.