A bankrupt landowner, Redwitz, emigrates to America fleeing his card debts and leaving his daughter in the care of his neighbour, the Baroness Rajk, at the cost of the family jewels. When the jewels are gone, Veronika is chased away from the house. She grows up to be a beautiful young woman and marries a gifted, but poor composer, George Tishler. The young man falls ill because of hard work and his treatment is financed by Baroness Rajk on the condition that they do not tell Veronika’s now rich father about her marriage and child. Moving into her father’s house, Veronika complies with this wish for the sake of her husband, but soon grows to enjoy the role of a spoilt and celebrated girl and ceases missing her previous, poorer lifestyle. She pays for her infidelity with the loss of her child.

In Imperial Russia, Anna, wife of the officer Karenin, goes to Moscow to visit her brother. On the way, she meets charming cavalry officer Vronsky, to whom she's immediately attracted. But in St. Petersburg’s high society, a relationship like this could destroy a woman’s reputation.

Tragedy strikes after a painter has an affair with the wife of a prince.

A couple of boy gangs in Budapest constantly fight over the neighborhood turf.