Martin Simmonds (Tim Roth) has been haunted throughout his life by the mysterious disappearance of his "brother" and extraordinary best friend, Polish Jewish virtuoso violinist, Dovidl Rapaport, who vanished shortly before the 1951 London debut concert that would have launched his brilliant career. Thirty-five years later, Martin discovers that Dovidl (Clive Owen) may still be alive, and sets out on an obsessive intercontinental search to find him and learn why he left.