Ken Russell's adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's "The Rainbow" sees impulsive young Ursula coming of age in pastoral England around the time of the Boer War. At school|she is introduced to lovemaking by a bisexual physical education instructress. While experiencing disillusionment in her first career attempt|teaching|she has an affair with a young Army officer who wants to marry her. Unable to accept a future of domesticity|she breaks it off with him and eventually leaves home in search of her destiny.