Everyone's in shock when esteemed doctor Pierre is found to have killed his wife. 15 years later, released on parole and determined to find the culprit, he is rejected by his sons and only finds support with his daughter, Nina.

1857. A courtroom. The prosecutor and defense counsel prepare to face off. Between them: Gustave Flaubert, the man on trial. Madame Bovary is charged with obscenity and offending public morals. As the two sides lay out their cases, the novel springs to life. Emma's story unfolds before our eyes. The trial is a reality check for us, rekindling the debate over the status of women at the time. What will the verdict be for Flaubert? What will the verdict be for women - for all the other Emmas?