On a frigid New Year's Eve, forced by her cruel father, an impoverished girl leaves her decrepit cabin to sell matches in the street. But, faced with apathy and the relentless blizzard, the poor pedlar finds herself in grave danger. And, as bone-chilling, nose-numbing cold takes over, dreamlike hallucinations haunt the hapless girl. Can the mesmerising visions of the little match girl keep humankind's ugly face at bay?