At 19, Cheri (Rupert Friend), son of former courtesan Madame Peloux (Kathy Bates) is already bored with his philandering lifestyle. Lea (Michelle Pfeiffer), an ex-rival of his mother, finds herself at the same crossroad, and initially as a favour, begins an affair with him to educate the spoilt boy in the ways of life and love. Blissfully unaware of their growing feelings for each other, their dalliance goes on for six years until Mme Peloux arranges a marriage between Cheri and the innocent Edmee (Felicity Jones). As the inevitable moment of parting approaches, they both realise that they are about to lose much more than they thought...