In May 1933, in the depths of the Great Depression, when nothing is certain and love only seems to exist in films, optimistic cinephile Irma believes in the possibility of true love. The country girl catches the eye of the lonely, handsome older publisher Rudolf, who hires her as a maid in his house. Despite warnings about Rudolf's intentions to share a bed with many of his servants, Irma accepts the position. Meanwhile, she rejects the obsessive advances of Eedi, a persistent village boy.