Adapted from Henry James' novel of the same title, the film follows American Isabel Archer (Nicole Kidman) as she travels through Europe with her friend Henrietta Stackpole (Mary-Louise Parker). Isabel seeks life experience, and rejects offers of marriage from Caspar Goodwood (Viggo Mortensen), fearing she will be tied down. Benefitting from bequests from her uncle Mr. Touchett (John Gielgud) and cousin Ralph Touchett (Martin Donovan), Isabel travels with Henrietta through Italy. Along the way the duo meet American expatriates Gilbert Osmond (John Malkovich) and Madame Serena Merle (Barbara Hershey), who use the young women as pawns in a game of social manipulation. In the end, Isabel must make a choice between maintaining her innocence or joining the ranks of the cynical Americans abroad.