Film romancé sur la vie du poète québécois Émile Nelligan, qui met l'accent sur sa relation trouble avec sa mère et ses rapports avec le père Seers, un imprimeur érudit, à travers les moments les plus déterminants de sa vie.

In late 19th century Montréal, young Émile Nelligan devotes himself to poetry, to the bewilderment of friends and family. He has a troubled relationship with his overprotective mother and is in open conflict with his father. Father Seers, a printer and scholar, encourages him, but his worsening mental state soon lands him in the asylum where he will spend the rest of his days.