In late 19th-century Sweden, bold and beautiful young aristocrat Julie (Anita Björk) throws over her fiancé after humiliating him, and impetuously decides to take up with servant Jean (Ulf Palme) -- despite his being engaged to Kristin (Märta Dorff), the cook. To Julie's surprise, she genuinely falls in love with Jean, but she realizes that prevailing class attitudes prevent them from being together. Determined, Julie decides that the couple should elope to Switzerland.