In the town square in Seville, near the cigar factory, there is a guard post. Dragoons, street boys, cigar factory workers with their lovers flicker in the lively crowd. Carmen appears. Temperamental and courageous, she is used to rule over everyone. Meeting with the dragoon Jose awakens passion in her. Her habanera - a song of free love - sounds like a challenge to Jose, and a flower thrown at his feet promises love. The arrival of the bride Jose Michaela for a while makes him forget about the impudent gypsy. He recalls his native village, home, mother, indulges in bright dreams. Once again, Carmen breaks the peace. This time, she turns out to be the culprit of a quarrel at the factory, and José must deliver her to prison. But the spell of the gypsy is omnipotent. Subdued by them, José disobeys orders and helps Carmen escape.
In the Lilas-Pastya tavern, the fun is in full swing. This is a secret meeting place for smugglers assisted by Carmen. Together with her friends Frasquita and Mercedes, she spends her leisure time singing and dancing. The welcome guest of the tavern is the bullfighter Escamillo. He is always cheerful, confident and bold. His life is full of worries, the fight in the arena is dangerous, but the hero's reward is sweet - the glory and love of beauties. It's getting dark. Customers leave the tavern. Under the cover of night, smugglers gather for a risky trade. This time, Carmen refuses to go with them. She is waiting for a friend. Jose comes to the tavern, but the joy of their meeting is short-lived. The war horn summons a dragoon to the barracks. In his soul, passion fights duty. Carmen is angry. A quarrel is brewing between the lovers. Zuniga suddenly appears - Jose's boss, he hopes for Carmen's favor. In a fit of jealousy, José draws his saber. The military oath has been broken, the way to return to the barracks has been cut off. Jose stays with Carmen to start a new life full of worries and dangers.
In the dead of night, in the mountains, the smugglers made a halt. Carmen and José are with them. The quarrel in the tavern is not forgotten. There is too much difference between lovers. Dreaming of a quiet life of a peasant, Jose suffers from betrayal of duty, from homesickness. Only passionate love for Carmen keeps him in the camp of smugglers. But Carmen no longer loves Jose, a break between them is inevitable. Will the cards say something to her? They predicted happiness for their friends, only Carmen does not promise joy: she read her death sentence in the cards. She contemplates the future with deep sorrow. Escamillo suddenly arrives - he is in a hurry to go on a date with Carmen. Jose blocks his way. Jealousy and indignation flare up in the soul of the dragoon. Carmen stops the duel of rivals. At this moment, José notices Michaela, who, having overcome her fear, came to the smugglers' camp to take José away. Jose does not heed her words. Only the news brought by Michaela about the fatal illness of his mother makes José leave Carmen. But their meeting is ahead.
Bright sunny day. The square in Seville is full of people. The audience is looking forward to the start of the bullfight. Noisily and joyfully they greet the procession of bullfighting heroes, led by the universal favorite Escamillo. Greets him and Carmen. She is attracted to the cheerful, courageous Escamillo. Frasquita and Mercedes warn Carmen of impending danger: José is following her relentlessly. Carmen doesn't listen to them; she rushes to the circus. Jose stops her. Gently, with love, he addresses Carmen. Jose does not believe that she has fallen out of love. But Carmen's answer is inexorable: everything is over between them. “I was born free - I will die free,” she proudly throws in Jose’s face. In a fit of anger, he stabs Carmen to death. By death, she asserts her freedom.
