Malin Ek

John and Carl have a small publishing company. One day John meets the poet Clara who recently made her debut, and Clara's fiancé Stig. John and Clara fall in love with each other, and she moves into an apartment owned by John. John breaks up with his wife and moves in with Clara. But Clara has a nervous breakdown.

In a fictional country, around 1912, student are rioting. There are cries for democracy and to overthrow of the old regime. The revolt is brutally downcast by the regime's forces. The leader of the rebellion is arrested.