一个是已近中年无戏可拍的女演员Anna,一个是冉冉升起的新星Krystyna,两个人在对方的生活中看到曾经的自己…… Sally Kirkland在此片中的表演催人泪下,把女演员Anna一生的悲欢落寞表现的近乎完美,她凭本片获得1988年金球奖影后,并获得第60届奥斯卡最佳女主角提名。Anna is a middle-aged actress looking for work in New York City, with the help of her sometime lover, Daniel. She used to be a Czech film star married to the director Tonda, who is now successfully making commercials in New York. After the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia, Anna was imprisoned and eventually exiled. Anna takes in the young girl Krystyna, who has just arrived from Czechoslovakia, and speaks no English. Anna and Daniel help Krystyna learn English and start a promising acting career. However, the only job Anna can find is as an understudy.