Maggie?Rainbow?LeewardandMarycannotevenagreeontheirthreeyearolddaughter'snameanymore.Maryisahardworkingnursewhodreamsofonlyonething:changingherlife.Sheresentsherhusbandforbeinganirresponsible,overgrownadolescent,incapableofholdingdownajob.Leewardisanatypical,idealisticmusicianwhofancieshimselfamisunderstoodartistandaNewAgevisionary.EnterLilas,a19yearoldFrenchartistandthedaughterofaworldfamouspainter,whoistryingtomakeitinNewYorkandgetawayfromanoverbearingmother.Whenthebubblyyoungwomanmovesintothecouple'stinyChinatownapartment,theiralreadyfragilebalanceisupsetevenfurther.Betweensurrealism,unusualcharacters,artandmagictricks,SwimLittleFishSwimisadreamlikejourneyfromchildhoodtoadulthood.