The platonic relationship between artist Dora Carrington and writer Lytton Strachey in the early 20th century.

The true story of a group of writers and artists in England in the 20's. Jonathan Pryce plays a gay man ; Emma Thompson is straight but in love with him; eventually she marries another, bisexual man and the three of them live together for some time.

Problems occur when:

• Thompson's first fiancee has difficulties giving her up.
• Thompson has a secret affair with the bisexual man's closest friend.
• The bisexual man openly introduces another woman into the arrangement, which Thompson doesn't mind but Pryce does