Sophia Tolstoy (played by French actress Nathalie Boutefeu) stands alone, talking to the camera as if she is speaking to her husband – angry, loving, excited. Sophia was only 18 when she met her future husband, 37-year-old Lev Tolstoy, who was already considered one of the greatest writers of his generation. On her wedding night, Sophia learned that he is an avid skirt-chaser who had a child with one of his maids. The couple’s relationship was indeed stormy, and was documented in detail in Sophia’s diary.

This film is a journey into Sophia’s tormented soul. At 92, Frederick Wiseman, a renowned documentary filmmaker, proves he can animate lives from the distant past using a moving script, one actress’ nuanced portrayal, and the impressionistic landscapes of the south of France, where the film was shot.