Film about a woman's struggle in a male-dominated society in the late 1800s. Amalie Skram was one of our first female writers who fought woman liberation cause. In a society that did not accept that a woman could have its own independent work, it was difficult for a woman to work as a creative artist, wife and mother. The author's autobiographical novels "Professor Hieronimus" and "On St. Jorgen" underlies this film.

The young factory girl Milja comes in disaster on board fishing with Julius, who fails her for the beautiful and unreliable Petrina. The people from the bourgeoisie despise factory girls and their bastard, they are vile and promiscuous. In his despair will Milja give away the kid for it to get a better life than she can provide it. But Onsea-Lovisa ready to change her opinion.

Set in Rodeløkka of Kristiania eastside around the year 1900 and is a rough sketch of how it was to be young and unmarried working girl at the time.

The late 19th century Christiania (Oslo) could offer a rich variety of entertainment. There were several variety theatres and brothels, and poor women could earn money based on their looks. The beautiful variety actress Lucie has met a lawyer by the name Gerner, a refined gentleman. Flowers and encounters outside the theatre develops into an erotic relationship. Lucie knows how to play on Gerner's jealousy and masculine pride, and finally she reaches her goal: becoming Mrs Gerner. For Lucie this means climbing the social ladder, but she'll soon notice the problems. Living in the upperclass society keeps reminding her of her poor background and her lack of etiquette. All this affects Gerner in a negative way, who is plagued by jealousy regarding people from Lucie's past. The relationship between the married couple keeps getting worse.