An innocent and beautiful teenage girl, Linnea takes a garret room in Stockholm just before WWI. She begins work for a dour older man, but soon meets an interesting young woman, Anna, a photographer. They form a relationship based on mutual attraction; soon they are lovers. From Anna, Linnea learns the craft of photography; European politics heat up, and Anna's even-tempered and versatile boyfriend Willy suddenly returns to take up with her again and with Linnea, too.