After surviving a brutal assault and hate crime, artist Mark Hogancamp (Steve Carell) copes with his memory and motor loss by creating and photographing a model world named Marwen. In the imaginary locale, a group of figurine women based on actual people in Mark's life protect him from Nazi soldiers. Monáe portrays Julie, a social worker who encourages Mark in real-world rehab and becomes G.I. Julie, a veteran soldier who helps Mark, aka Cap'n Hogie, in Marwen.