In this period romantic drama, Sanin (Timothy Hutton), an aristocratic young man, fights a duel for the hand of Gemma (Valeria Golino), a young bride-to-be. He plans to sell his family estate to finance the wedding, but his plans go awry when he falls prey to married seductress Maria (Nastassja Kinski). She feigns interest in buying the estate as a way to be nearer Sanin, and he must fight against the possibility of losing both women.