In 17th century Italy, master violinmaker Nicolo Bussotti (Carlo Cecchi) creates his finest work in anticipation of the birth of his first child. When his wife and child die during the birth, Bussotti finishes the violin in a state of profound grief. Over the next three centuries, the instrument travels slowly throughout Europe and eventually to China, inspiring passion and obsession in the life of each successive owner. Finally, the battered violin joins a collection of fine instruments to be auctioned in present-day Montreal. Brought in to appraise the collection, expert Charles Morritz (Samuel L. Jackson) quietly begins to suspect the overlooked violin might be the lost Bussotti masterpiece.