Context

Adolescence of Utena is the final of the three primary entries in the Revolutionary
Girl Utena media franchise, following the 1996 manga series and the 1997 anime
television series. Though there are significant differences in plot execution
between the manga, television series, and film, all three tell the same basic
story, utilizing the same general narrative trajectory and characters.[1] The
series is highly intertextual, with Adolescence of Utena in particular drawing
heavily from plot elements and characterization established in the anime series.[1]

Plot
Utena Tenjou, a new student at Ohtori Academy, tours the school with classmate
Wakaba Shinohara. She observes a fencing match between students Juri Arisugawa and
Miki Kaoru; encounters her ex-boyfriend Touga Kiryuu, and discovers a rose-engraved
signet ring identical to one he was wearing after their encounter; and meets Anthy
Himemiya, the sister of the school's absent chairman Akio Ohtori. Kyouichi Saionji,
a student also wearing a rose ring who calls Anthy the "Rose Bride", sees Utena's
ring and challenges her to a duel. Utena emerges victorious using a sword pulled
out of Anthy's chest.

That night, Anthy visits Utena's dormitory and attempts to initiate sex with her,
but is rebuffed. When Utena questions Anthy about the duel and the rings, Anthy
responds that the rings mark their bearers as duelists, that she is betrothed to
whomever is the victor of the duels, and that whoever possesses the Rose Bride has
the "power to revolutionize the world." Elsewhere, Juri's childhood friend Shiori
Takatsuki tells Touga that as a child, her "prince" died attempting to save a
drowning girl. They receive a phone call from Akio, who says that Anthy is a witch
who made the lord of the flies into a prince, but when her magic faded, the prince
returned to his true form; the duels are organized in an attempt to reactivate her
magic. Juri, who is manipulated by Shiori into dueling Utena, is defeated after
witnessing Utena seemingly transform into Anthy's prince.

The school's broadcasting club uncovers a video that suggests that Anthy was
previously drugged and raped by Akio. Akio's corpse is found buried in Anthy's
garden shortly thereafter, shocking the school with the revelation that he is long
dead. A second video depicts Anthy lucid during her rape, which prompted a panicked
Akio to stab her and accidentally fall out of a window to his death. Utena searches
for Anthy and finds Touga; she suddenly remembers that Touga is the "prince"
referenced by Shiori, and that he died while saving Juri from drowning when they
were children. Utena thanks Touga for being her "prince", and he vanishes. Utena
finds Anthy and tells her they should go "to the outside world," upon which Utena
is swallowed by a car wash and metamorphosed into a car. Anthy enters the car and
drives it away from the academy, though a fleet of tanks and Shiori – also in car
form – attempt to thwart her. Anthy is assisted in her escape by Juri, Miki,
Saoinji, and Wakaba, who have been inspired by Utena and Anthy to also go to the
"outside world." An apparition of Akio attempts to stop Anthy, but she rebukes him
in a burst of roses. Utena and Anthy emerge riding the remnants of the car, and
kiss as they drive into a grey wasteland.