Friendship and healing are the themes of Nelly's Bodega, a film about the supportive relationship between a 12-year-old African-American girl, Fatima, and a Latina woman, Nelly, in her 20s. The pair, unlikely comrades at first glance, forge a bond as they struggle through difficult periods in their lives. Nelly, trapped in a physically abusive home, and Fatima, lonely and unsure of herself, derive strength from one another and manage to discover the power that lies within themselves.