Ayako is a housewife who spends her days nursing her father-in-law and taking care of her husband, bumps into her former lover Keisuke, who is now married and has became a cleaner. When Ayako was a junior high school student fourteen years ago, she was involved in a forbidden love affair with Keisuke who had been a teacher at the time.

Narumi, who has an aggressive personality, stabbed her colleague and went to prison. After serving her time, Narumi is released and goes back to her hometown where she grew up. Narumi goes to her younger brother Kei's home. At a young age, their parents died in a accident and Kei is the only one left Narumi can rely on. After Narumi sees Kei and his girlfriend Kana living together happily, Narumi decides to take her brother back. Narumi reveals a secret between her and Kei.

1867年德川幕府被迫奉還三百年來的政權，推開這維新大門的志士坂本龍馬在新時代來臨前就被暗殺，關於他猝死的傳言甚囂塵上，至今仍是謎團……遺孀阿涼在他死後改嫁給江湖藝人松兵衛，之後又傳出勾搭上與坂本龍馬長相神似的虎藏，國家英雄的未亡人沉迷於酒色的流言傳遍全城，政府於是派遣坂本龍馬以前的手下覺兵衛去調查她的行為與動機。其實表面看似放蕩的阿涼，心底卻始終念念不忘遇刺身亡的丈夫……

由于地震，美丽由实（黑川芽以 饰）的人生彻底毁灭。而今她来到福岛县磐城市的姑妈家过活。可是由实的身心早已伤痕累累，虽然苟活人世，但是早已没有任何目标。在姑妈三番五次的鼓励下，由衣鼓起勇气走出家门。很快她在一间小酒馆找到了一份工作。酒馆的主人杉谷（井浦新 饰）也是一个畸零之人，他失去了过往人生的记忆，生命残缺不全，更没有人知道他姓氏名谁，来自何方。由衣的到来宛如向估计清冷孤寂的潭水中投进一枚石子。两个孤独之人越走越近，相偎取暖……
本片根据佐伯一麦的同名小说改编。

20世纪初，明治政府加大足尾地区铜矿开采力度，却对当地的生态环境造成难以挽回的巨大影响。曾经山清水秀的谷中村变成了铜毒蔓延的死地，当地村民更面临着背井离乡的惨景。贫苦农家女孩新田幸（尾野真千子 饰）经哥哥信吉（冈田义德 饰）和为足尾矿毒奔走呼吁的政治家田中正造（柄本明 饰）介绍，前往东京为热衷于民主事业的干练女性福田英子（铃木保奈美 饰）担任女佣。途中阿幸遭遇警察官员日下部锭太郎（松重丰 饰），后者命其监视英子及其朋友们的言行，并将有社会主义倾向的言论记录汇报给他。抱持着种种不安的心情，阿幸来到英子的家中，并结识了主人的情人石川三四郎（北村有起哉 饰）、落魄文人石川啄木（渡边大 饰）等形色各异的人。
乱世之始，来自足尾的女孩见证着眼前风云变幻的一切……