Exquisite cinematography highlights this biopic about Michelangelo Merisi di Caravaggio (Alessio Boni), an Italian genius whose passionate Baroque paintings reflect his zest for living, which dampens when he becomes entangled with a prostitute named Fillide (Claire Keim). Caravaggio's arrogance enrages his high-society patrons, but he continues to cavort with his disreputable friends until violence overtakes him.