[1][2] Set in a seaside resort in the Caucasus, the story centers on Laevsky (Andrew Scott), an aristocratic civil servant, and his mistress Nadya (Fiona Glascott), whom Laevsky is trying to abandon.

[3][4] Ivan Andreitch Laevsky is an educated Russian aristocrat who has run off with a married woman, Nadyezyhda Fyodorovna (Nadya), to the Black sea.

He got a job in the civil service, but is careless about his work, mostly drinking and playing cards.

He receives a letter telling him that Nadya's husband has died (and therefore she is free to marry him).

Samoylenko has two boarders in his house, and they discuss philosophy, science and literature around the dinner table and elsewhere.

Samoylenko agrees, but doesn't have 100 roubles, so he tells Laevsky he will have to borrow it in turn from a third party.

After Laevsky leaves, Samoylenko asks Von Koren (his boarder) to advance him 100 roubles.

Von Koren gives Samoylenko 100 roubles, but on the condition that Laevsky agrees to take Nadya with him to Petersburg.

Laevsky agrees, their friends cannot talk them out of it, and they make arrangements for a duel with pistols.

Their friends try to talk them into forgiving each other, and Laevsky agrees and apologizes, but Von Koren, despite their entreaties, insists on going through.

Von Koren, who is a practiced pistol shot, takes aim at Laevsky's head.

Meanwhile, the Russian Orthodox deacon, who has been hurrying to the scene, appears over a hill and shouts.

Laevsky and Nadya greet him warmly, he shakes hands, and they say emotional goodbyes.

Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 81% based on 26 reviews, with an average rating of 7 out of 10.

[3] Metacritic gives the film a score of 75% based on reviews from 16 critics.