About the title
Young playwright Konstantin Treplev stages his own play at a provincial estate, giving the only role to his ambitious beloved, Nina. The play's failure, alongside the actress's success, will destroy their former relationship and set off new, fateful entanglements. The situation between the young couple is worsened by the fact that Konstantin's mother, an actress, is staying at the estate with her lover from the capital, the popular writer Boris. It is Boris who catches the attention of the disillusioned Nina, and he, in turn, is flattered by the young woman's attention and far more interested in talking with her than the rest of the household would like.