A tragic accident has made Anna-Marie a widow and left her with sole responsibility for her daughters Grete and Elin and the large Højgård. The widowhood has made Anna-Marie hard and determined, so when she discovers that Grete is in love with one of Højgård's men, she hits hard. At the same time, she hatches a plan to sell Elin to her son on a nearby estate. However, both daughters insist on deciding on their own lives - and the fight against the mother's dominance threatens to destroy the family forever.