In the mid-1800s Normandy, France, we encounter Emma Bovary, the spirited daughter of a farmer, portrayed by Mia Wasikowska. After concluding her education at a convent, Emma embarks on a new chapter of her life as she marries the earnest young doctor, Charles Bovary, played by Henry Lloyd-Hughes. With immense hope for a vibrant and romantic life reminiscent of the novels she adores, Emma departs from her loving father's home and relocates to the quaint town of Yonville, where Charles has established his medical practice.
Despite Charles's affection for his new bride, he finds himself consumed by his medical duties, leaving Emma feeling isolated and bored as he spends his days attending to patients. Their fleeting moments together do little to alleviate her sense of dissatisfaction, as Charles remains largely unaware of her inner turmoil. With only their maid Henriette, played by Laura Carmichael, for company, Emma finds herself vulnerable to the manipulations of the cunning local merchant, Lheureux, brought to life by Rhys Ifans, who dangles the allure of luxurious items on credit before her.
In her quest for fulfillment, Emma develops a close friendship with the charming clerk Leon Dupuis, depicted by Ezra Miller, who shares her romantic ideals and her disdain for the mundane life of Yonville. Emma's dreams revolve around Paris, where she yearns to soak in the cultural experiences that she perceives would rescue her from her dreary existence as a rural doctor's wife. Despite their mutual attraction, she dismisses Leon's heartfelt advances when he confesses his love, and he ultimately departs for law studies in Paris.
Emma's world quickly expands when she and Charles receive an invitation to a lavish hunting party hosted by the Marquis d'Andervilliers, skillfully portrayed by Logan Marshall-Green. The excitement of mingling with the elite revitalizes Emma, prompting her to purchase extravagant garments from Lheureux to dazzle the attendees. Captivated by the luster of high society and the calculated flirtations of the Marquis, Emma finds herself ensnared in a web of superficiality at yet another agricultural exhibit.
As her longing for opulence intensifies, Emma, driven by impulsive desires, begins to spend lavishly on decorative enhancements for her home and wardrobe—all on credit provided by Lheureux. Influenced by Homais, played by Paul Giamatti, a local pharmacist, Emma persuades Charles to perform a surgery on Hippolyte, Homais' servant, aimed at correcting his club-foot, with the hope of garnering acclaim as a celebrated surgeon. However, the operation goes tragically awry, culminating in a botched result that necessitates the amputation of Hippolyte's leg.
Feeling ashamed of her husband's failure and increasingly trapped in her marriage, Emma visits the Marquis to unburden her heart, and soon they embark on a clandestine affair. Emma's infatuation grows, and she frequently traverses the forest to rendezvous with the Marquis. Charles remains blissfully ignorant of his wife's unhappiness and illicit relationship. Eventually, Emma implores the Marquis to elope with her, but when he initially resists, he provides her with false hope by vowing to make arrangements.
On the night of their planned escape, however, Emma is devastated to receive a basket of apricots containing a note from the Marquis, severing their bond. This betrayal leaves her plunged into a deep, despondent state, directly affecting her well-being. Seeking relief from her sorrow, Lheureux offers Emma concert tickets to Rouen, which momentarily distracts her. While attending, she and Charles unexpectedly cross paths with Leon, now a law clerk, who invites them to an opera the subsequent evening. Feeling constrained to return to Yonville for his work, Charles proposes that Emma extend her stay, thus granting her an opportunity to rendezvous with Leon. Their forbidden romance reignites the flames of passion, as they meet furtively in a hotel.
Back in Yonville, Emma manipulates Charles into believing she is engrossed in piano lessons, facilitating her weekly escapades with Leon. However, her extravagant spending surfaces when Lheureux confronts Charles for payment, resulting in shock given the magnitude of their debt. Lheureux then suggests Emma gain power of attorney over Charles, enabling her to liquidate his late father's estate to settle the debts. Even a return of some of her purchases fails to dent the considerable 10,000 francs they owe. Driven by desperation, Emma makes repeated visits to Leon, who, unable to assist her financially due to his job security, is pressured by his supervisor to end their affair.
With no alternatives left and burdened by her overwhelming despair, Emma takes a bottle of poison from Charles' medical supplies and flees their home, retracing her steps through the woodland paths that once symbolized her romantic fantasies. Ultimately, she succumbs to the poison's effects. As Charles realizes his wife is missing along with the poison, he hastily organizes a search party, tragically ignorant of the fact that he is far too late to save Emma from her despair.
