"The Luminaries" is an adaptation of the popular novel by writer Eleanor Catton, who also served as the screenwriter. The story takes place in New Zealand during the gold rush. Thousands of adventurers from all over the world set out in search of wealth, but only a few are fortunate. Among them is British woman Anna Wetherell, who falls in love with the enigmatic Emery Staines. The death of the cabin's owner, who had a hidden treasure, becomes the catalyst for a series of tragic events.