It's 1922 and Louise Brooks (Haley Lu Richardson), a bubbly ambitious young woman in Wichita Kansas, has been accepted to train at the Denishawn School of Dancing in New York city. Mother-of-two Norma Carlisle (Elizabeth McGovern), wife of lawyer Alan Carlisle (Campbell Scott), volunteers to chaperone her.
The independent-minded Louise initially clashes with the proper Norma, going out drinking past her bedtime and watching theater with colored people, among others. But eventually, the two learn to understand each other, such as agreeing that corsets are not needed.
Norma has ulterior reasons for accompanying Louise. One is her less than perfect home life, with a secret she just found out about Alan. Another thing, before being adopted by a sweet farming couple in Kansas, she used to live in an orphanage in New York. She visits the orphanage to find out about her biological parents. Being barred from seeing her records by the nuns of the orphanage, she seeks the help of a worker named Joseph (Géza Röhrig). She is able to find not only her mother but love as well.
Meanwhile, Louise impresses her teachers and is offered opportunities that lead to her becoming a world renowned actress.
It seems that when Norma got rid of her corset, she also threw away societal norms. Twenty years later, the effects of Norma's decision to embrace whatever life throws at her is apparent in the peaceful Carlisle household. In her own quiet way, Norma is able make an extended family, including Joseph and his daughter Greta plus Alan's special friend, exist harmoniously together.
The independent-minded Louise initially clashes with the proper Norma, going out drinking past her bedtime and watching theater with colored people, among others. But eventually, the two learn to understand each other, such as agreeing that corsets are not needed.
Norma has ulterior reasons for accompanying Louise. One is her less than perfect home life, with a secret she just found out about Alan. Another thing, before being adopted by a sweet farming couple in Kansas, she used to live in an orphanage in New York. She visits the orphanage to find out about her biological parents. Being barred from seeing her records by the nuns of the orphanage, she seeks the help of a worker named Joseph (Géza Röhrig). She is able to find not only her mother but love as well.
Meanwhile, Louise impresses her teachers and is offered opportunities that lead to her becoming a world renowned actress.
It seems that when Norma got rid of her corset, she also threw away societal norms. Twenty years later, the effects of Norma's decision to embrace whatever life throws at her is apparent in the peaceful Carlisle household. In her own quiet way, Norma is able make an extended family, including Joseph and his daughter Greta plus Alan's special friend, exist harmoniously together.