An elderly, egocentric architect named Halvard Solness is grappling with his past and the relationships he has strained over the years. Confined to his home due to illness, he dominates and manipulates those around him, including his wife Aline and his devoted employee Ragnar. Halvard fears the success of younger architects, feeling threatened by their talent and ambition. Through a series of oppressive encounters, he reveals his deep-seated insecurities and guilt over the ambitions that have dictated his life's choices.

The arrival of Hilde Wangel, a young woman with whom Halvard shares a mysterious past, disrupts the household's fragile equilibrium. Hilde idolizes him, reigniting his pride and stirring memories of a promise he once made to her when she was a girl. Hilde's presence forces Halvard to confront his deepest regrets and delusions, leading to a profound and intense exploration of ambition, power, and human frailty. As Hilde challenges Halvard's long-held narratives, tensions rise, culminating in a dramatic and revealing interrogation of their shared history and the nature of his achievements.