Synopsis

In Pyotr Sorin's country estate, everyone comes to watch a play, written by Sorin's nephew, Konstantin Treplev, in which a young woman, Nina Zarechnaya, acts. Treplev's mother, the ageing actress Irina Arkadina, keeps interrupting the play until Treplev stops the performance and leaves. Receiving attention from these famous figures makes Nina happy. In contrast, all Treplev really cares about is seeing Nina again. A lady named Masha shares with the local doctor Yevgeny Dorn that she has feelings for Treplev. Some days after, Treplev puts a seagull he has killed at Nina's feet, and he tells her that he will kill himself, too, because Nina has grown cold towards him. A week later, it is revealed that Treplev has tried to kill himself. He survived, but he is wounded as a result. Masha tells Trigorin that she has decided to marry Medvedenko so that she is not miserable about Treplev. Trigorin is now attracted to Nina and he asks Arkadina to understand that he needs to pursue the young woman. Arkadina begs Trigorin to reconsider, but eventually she sees that her attempts to keep him are futile. Nina tells Trigorin that she's leaving her family and going to Moscow to become an actress. The writer gives her the address of his hotel, and they part with a kiss. Two years after, Dorn and Treplev talk about what happened to Nina and Trigorin. Although Nina became an actress, she's not very successful. Furthermore, Nina got pregnant but lost the child, and after a while, Trigorin got bored of her. Treplev, on the other hand, has become a famous writer. Arkadina and Trigorin come to Sorin's estate for a visit because Sorin's health has gotten worse. Nina comes by the house and meets Treplev. She tells him that she used to be bad at acting because, when she was with Trigorin, he suffocated her passion. Now, she's found her purpose and she can keep going. Treplev begs Nina to stay, but she leaves. A gunshot is heard from offstage. Dorn checks what has happened. Out loud, he says it's nothing, but he discreetly tells Trigorin that he should take Arkadina away because Treplev has shot himself.