Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) is a Los Angeles Times reporter who was recently hospitalized for a cycling accident. In bed, he often heard beautiful violin sounds nearby, and thus met the talented violinist Nathaniel Els (Jamie Foxx). Gradually, he discovered that Els had studied at the prestigious Juilliard School, but dropped out of school due to schizophrenia and now can only live on the streets. Lopez decided to write Els's story into a column, so he began to pay attention to Els's every move. In the process of getting to know each other, the two gradually established a deep friendship. Lopez even abandoned his family and career to help Els fulfill his musical dream, but Els' mental illness has always been a fetter between the two... This film is adapted from Steve Lopez's article published in the newspaper.