In 1889 Sweden, young Per Nilsson has a very domineering mother, Anna Månsdotter. His father died many years ago. Per and his mother have for a long time had an incestuous relationship. But Per marries Hanna for the sake of her money. Per's mother is evilly mean to her, and Per refuses to have sex with her. She starts to suspect that something is going on between her husband and her mother-in-law.