In the 1940s, a British youngster named Martin is struggling to learn piano. He meets Dovidl, a Polish violin prodigy who became orphaned when his sisters and parents were murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust. Dovidl helps Martin improve his piano playing, and the two become the best of friends. However, when Dovidl is scheduled to make first public performance on the international stage, he disappears that very night.

Forty years later, while tirelessly searching for his friend, Martin (Tim Roth) finally finds a major clue to the disappearance.