The year is 1813; the location, Prussia. The 16-year-old Marie (Sylvie Testud) lives with her mother (Carola Regnier), a countess, on a grand, slightly run-down country estate. Undisturbed by bellicose hordes roaming the countryside, she glides through time on roller skates. Her mother is investigating the courses of light. She spends her days surrounded by assorted mirrors and gleaming, glittering objects. Imprisoned in her world, she has left her daughter's upbringing to the governess (Veronica Quilligan), an austere, deeply religious but sensual woman. Visitors arrive: Herr Tümmler (Jean-Francois Perrier) has brought with him his nephew Auguste (Bastian Trost) and the long-awaited new mirrors for the countess. A tender love burgeons between Marie and the shy, warm-hearted Auguste. But Marie's governess and Herr Tümmler get along from the very start as well. A tranquil summer takes its course, with moments of passion that recurrently flare up and first love. But the tender advances between Marie and Auguste are abruptly interrupted by the appearance of a very handsome, yet not very reliable-looking young man named Friedrich (Martin Feifel). He has mingled among a group of stragglers who seek shelter in the barn from the pouring rain. All of the estate inhabitants are attracted and at the same time repulsed by the newcomers. Marie's governess feels attracted to Friedrich. Auguste is suspicious of him. The countess gives a small parly in the evening. Marie tries in vain to get the awkward Auguste to dance. Friedrich lakes his place. Every step, every movement is filled with such a seductive power that Marie has never experienced and felt before. The next day a drinking bout ensues in the summer heat. Pent-up emotions break loose with varying degrees of potency. Cautious advances, sexual lusl and wantonness expand into an orgy of pleasure as well as brutal humiliation and violence. One incident follows another in rapid succession and soon the balance of power on the estate is reversed: Friedrich seduces Fräulein Bettina, while the completely drunken riff-raff plunder the house. In the struggle against the inebriated rabble, Marie's mother falls and dies shortly afterwards. Marie is raped. She and the other children are then held captive by those who had been taken in as guests. Herr Tümmler makes common cause with the rabble; only then does this act endear him to the governess whom he ardently desires. Due to her courage and with the help of the children, Marie manages to turn fate round. She is able to liberate everyone and settles the score with her tormentor.