When 17-year-old Effi Briest marries the elderly Baron von Instetten, she moves to a small, isolated Baltic town and a house that she fears is haunted. Starved for companionship, Effi begins a friendship with Major Crampas, a charismatic womanizer.

Going from a dysfunctional family into a life of prostitution, Marina finally finds happiness and comfort with unsuccessful artist Alexander. However, a brain tumor threatens to make him blind and only an expensive operation can save him.