American drama based on the play by Anton Chekhov in which five people who connect when they visit a country estate find that their lives are about to intertwine with each other. Set in the early 20th century, fading actress Irina (Annette Bening) pays a visit to her brother, Sorin (Brian Dennehy), and her son, Konstantin (Billy Howle) and brings along her lover and famed writer, Boris (Corey Stoll). Konstantin is infatuated with the girl who lives on the nearby estate, Nina (Saoirse Ronan). The two get along well until Nina is swept off her feet by the sophisticated and intelligent writer Boris. Konstantin is furious that Nina has betrayed him and ends up on a downward spiral. Meanwhile, Konstantin is Masha (Elisabeth Moss)'s object of desire, a forlorn girl who wishes to quash her feelings of loneliness in the form of a romantic conquest with Konstantin. Irina, however, becomes increasingly envious of the young, free-spirited Nina who is starting to captivate Boris's attention.