A man abandons his well-regulated life to track down a Portuguese writer.

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In Bern to teach ancient languages at secondary school, Raimund Gregorius (an excellent Jeremy Irons) see a young woman about to throw herself from a bridge. Although he saves her, she disappears, leaving behind a raincoat with a book in its pocket by Amadeu de Prado. Fascinated by the content, Raimund quits his job and gets on a train to Lisbon to fond the writer, who asks such pertinent questions about the meaning of life. Through people who know him, Raimund finds Amadeu (Jack Huston) who is not only a philanthropic doctor, but also a member of the resistance against Salazar’s dictatorship. Will Gregorius' quest help him find himself?

Magnificently filmed by Bille Auguste, from the novel of the same name by writer/philosopher Pascal Mercier, this mysterious and suspenseful film grabs the viewer from the beginning. We find our dreams of taking off to find ourselves resurging in the labyrinth of Lisbon's streets, where homage is paid to a book that ignites change in those few who are receptive to its message.