Julia, professor of literature, an unprepossessing woman with an air of severity due to long years of disciplined work and living alone, fulfils one of her dreams: she teaches for a semester at the Sorbonne in Paris. When she enters her small, charming hotel room where she is to stay for the next months, she is delighted.But disillusionment comes swiftly, for the next room is occupied by Nadja, a young Russian woman, and her partner, the historian Aleksander. With their frequent quarrelling and elaborate lovemaking, the young couple seriously disturb the professor's peace and concentration. At the same time Julia cannot resist the allure of the young couple. And not only that: she begins to succumb to the impetuous charm of the young scholar with his unorthodox philosophy of life and his spontaneity. When Aleksander's partner Nadja returns to Russia, he turns to Julia. At first she can't take his approaches seriously, refusing to believe that she, too, has long since lost control of her emotions. Finally Julia gives in to her passion. An intense and exciting affair develops between the mature woman and the young man. Yet Julia still has doubts, and they cannot be easily pushed aside. She is certain that the affair with Sascha, as she now calls him, will come to an unhappy end. When Julia falls seriously ill, she refuses to believe in Aleksander's love for she is too afraid that he could leave her. Yet Aleksander fights for her and against her fears. Slowly and cautiously she begins to enjoy their love - then Nadja, Aleksander's ex-girlfriend turns up again in Paris.