Tchaikovsky's Wife

Antonina Milyukova's life changes abruptly when she hears Tchaikovsky's music: she falls for the composer, writes him passionate letters and finally urges him to marry her. For Tchaikovsky, who had to hide his homosexuality in Tsarist Russia, this came at just the right time: He sees marriage as a way of preserving his good reputation. The first days of their relationship are characterized by hope, but the bitter reality soon becomes apparent: Tchaikovsky feels no love for Antonina and treats her with increasing hostility. His moodiness and inability to be close to her drive her to the brink of despair. When he tries to strangle her one night, he flees to St. Petersburg the next morning, leaving her alone. Antonina also leaves the marital home to visit her family near Kiev, but remains obsessed with the idea of winning him back. However, her attempts - including the use of witchcraft - fail miserably. While Tchaikovsky wants to make a final break with her, she begins a relationship with her lawyer Shlykov and has three children with him. But pride and stubbornness, and perhaps also deep feelings, make her cling to Tchaikovsky, with fatal consequences.