Marta, a violinist in a provincial orchestra conducted by her husband, Adam, goes to New York for a three months stay. There she meets a famous conductor, Jan Lasocki, who was in love with her mother. Adam feels jealous and reproaches Lasocki with leaving Poland. Lasocki does not attend a tribute concert organized in his honour in Paris, and goes back to his native village, to conduct the local orchestra in Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Yet, the confrontation between Adam and Jan becomes harsher and harsher.