It is 1956. Dau is a distinguished Soviet scientist who meets up with the love of his youth โ Maria, a Greek actress โ during her three day visit to Moscow. They havenโt seen each other for 25 years. Dau is a successful and prosperous scientist, but feels excruciatingly dissatisfied with his family life. Through Maria he hopes to regain lost harmony and beauty, but reality intrudes when Nora, Dauโs wife, returns home.