Hedvig Jensen is a famous ropewalker and is known to her public as Elvira
Madigan. She meets Lieutenant Sixten Sparre, a Swedish officer who is
married and has two children. They both decide to run away, but since
Sixten deserted the army, he cannot find any job and the couple encounters
many hardships. Moreover, while on the run, Sixten meets a friend who tries
to convince him to come back to his country and family.