Based on the eponymous novella by Turgenev, the film follows the narrator, a young Russian man traveling in Germany. He meets his compatriots, Gagin and his sister Asya. The narrator and Asya fall in love, but will he take the next step?

Based on the eponymous novella by Ivan Turgenev, the film follows the narrator, a young Russian man traveling in Germany. In his travels he meets his compatriots, Gagin and his sister Asya. Asya's behavior is at times odd, but the reason is soon unveiled. Despite her eccentricity, the narrator and Asya fall for each other, but will he take the next step?