Theresa Raquin follows life of a young woman, unhappily married to her first cousin by an overbearing aunt who may seem to be well-intentioned but in many ways is deeply selfish. Theresa`s husband, Camille, is sickly and egocentric, and when the opportunity arises, Theresa enters into a turbulent and sordidly passionate affair with one of Camille`s friends, Laurent.