This historical drama with music examines the life and times of Émile Nelligan, one of the major Canadian poets of the 19th century who struggled through a difficult childhood with the help of his loving mother, only to see his career cut short by tragic circumstances.
In a dystopian future, Étienne, the son of an influential family in City 14 (formerly Montreal), flees to a neighboring commune to escape an alienating world. He finds himself torn between two opposing realities, where freedom clashes with comfort, leading to a tragic struggle for emancipation.