In a Danish village in the early 1600s, a young woman named Anne, whose mother was thought to be a witch, develops sympathy toward an old woman, Marte, who is accused of witchcraft. The intervention of Anne's older but kindly husband, Pastor Absalon saved her mother -- but now, urged on by his overbearing mother, he refuses to help Marte. When Absalon's son returns home and is attracted to Anne, it's a matter of time before her family destiny catches up with her.

Marie Jantzen is in her forties and, thanks to hard work and common sense, the owner of a successful dry cleaning business. Although she is successful and has money in the bank, she feels cheated by life, as she has neither a husband nor children. In an attempt to make amends, she responds to a marriage advertisement and comes into contact with the charming Georg Tingbo, who unfortunately turns out to have a few skeletons in his closet.