Sophia Town, banlieue noire de Johannesburg, dans les années 40-50 : vie culturelle et politique intense. En 1955, les habitants sont déportés, leurs maisons rasées. Une ville blanche sera reconstruite à la place.

1958, Sophiatown. On the eve of his home being demolished by aparheid police, notorious gangster Badman decides that he will fight to the death for his home. But then Eve, a gorgeous torch singer is thrown into his orbit and, on the last day of his life, he finds something worth living for.