In Margate, England, life is not easy for teenager Sarah Taylor, between being bullied at school, being exploited by a dominant boss and having to take care of her depressive mother and her two siblings. But Sarah finds a way to channel her growing despair and fight adversity when her drama teacher gives her a new purpose.

Chronicling several significant events in their troubled relationship, "Kindling" is comprised of three individual vignettes that follow Mary's experiences with her mother and her mother's alcoholism.