Anna is asked to Moscow by her brother Stiva Oblonsky to mediate his quarrel with his wife Dolly. Upon her arrival, her travelling companion, countess Vronskaya, introduces her to her son Alexej Vronsky, a dashing military man. Dolly's sister, 18-year-old princess Kitty invites Anna to the ball at her family's house where she expects Vronsky to propose to her.

After accidentally running into his rival in his house, Karenin wants to divorce a heavily pregnant Anna. Karenin is in Moscow when Anna goes into labour and the doctor and the midwife fear for Anna's life. Just as Stiva and his wife Dolly try to talk Karenin out of a divorce, Levin and Kitty meet at the Oblonsky's.