Sid grew up with his mother Arabella in a cheerful and somewhat naïve Apulian community, which was filled with affection and a great passion for cinema. After years away he returns to the land of his childhood where his mother had created a cinematic arena and this trip in his childhood memories will lead to a better understanding of her human and existential aspects....
著名导演吉多•孔蒂尼（丹尼尔•戴-刘易斯 Daniel Day Lewis 饰）欲筹拍第九部影片，由于之前票房惨败，让他遭媒体围攻，仅女记者斯蒂芬妮（凯特•哈德森 Kate Hudson 饰）没有发难。制片人也不断施压，幸好有助理莉莉（朱迪•丹奇 Judi Dench 饰）帮他解难。他感觉不适，躲在罗马一家旅馆，在电话中倾听妻子路易莎（玛丽昂•歌迪亚 Marion Cotillard 饰）的安慰，与情人卡拉（佩内洛普•克鲁兹 Penélope Cruz 饰）交欢，仍摆脱不掉被母亲（索菲娅•罗兰 Sophia Loren 饰）带来的童年阴影。在给大明星克劳迪娅（妮可•基德曼 Nicole Kidman饰）试镜时，他开始反思电影的意义……...
