Arseniy Bibikov

Seamstress Mary dreams of a better life in luxury instead of her badly paid job in a sweatshop. Her dreams come true, when she draws the attention of Victor, a burgeoise, who invites her for dinner and makes her a lady. But, about a year later, she has become tired of him, and thanks to her his money is almost gone. (imdb)

Maria Nikolaevna, the wife of a humble bank employee, leads a quiet life with her husband and baby. By chance she meets Lidia, a childhood friend, who as the inheritor of her husband's fortune, introduces her to the worldly pleasures of high society. Through her friend, Maria meets a wealthy and influential man, Lebedev. Falling wildly in love with her, he decides to court the young woman. Nevertheless, Maria refuses to yield to his advances. (festival-larochelle.org)

Marianna (Vera Kholodnaia) is a poor but decent girl who is working for the millionaire Dymov. Dymov has a son, a dilettante youngster who with the help of his wealth will seduce Marianna who, besides being poor, decent and talented, has also a fiancée.Marianna doesn't hesitate to leave her family and fiancée in order to obtain the splendid life offered by Dymov Jr. Alas; their romance is short lived.

A romance in the upper-classes develops as the Bolshevik revolution is at hand.