Maya Anderson and the Gem of the West is a story about Maya Anderson, a courageous housewife on the western frontier, who tries to save a young girl from the hands of the girl's abusive uncle.
Maya Anderson wants nothing more than a child of her own but after multiple miscarriages Maya is left childless and empty. Yet, there is hope when Judah Gordon, a local hotel operator, allows his young niece, Pearl, to help Maya with chores at her cabin. As Maya and Pearl become close, Maya realizes that Judah has been abusing the girl. However, soon after her discovery, Judah puts an end to Pearl’s visits with Maya. When she hears this, Maya pleads with her husband, Nathan, to do something, but he forbids it, telling her that it is not their business to get involved. But Maya cannot allow this abuse to go on; she goes to town on her own to confront Judah on Pearl's behalf.
The film is a new variation on the western genre. Maya Anderson and the Gem of the West is centered around a strong female character and deals with topics such as child abuse and sexism – issues rarely addressed in the cinema of The Wild West.
