故事发生在1692年的马萨诸塞州,在一个地处偏远的小镇之中,生活着一群虔诚又愚昧的人们。女孩阿比盖尔(薇诺娜·瑞德 Winona Ryder 饰)是牧师的侄女,因此在镇上享有很高的声誉,凡是她说的话人们都信,凡是她做的事人们都赞成。凭借着自己的“特权”,阿比盖尔将数十名她看不惯的女子以“女巫”之名送上了绞刑架,这其中就有约翰(丹尼尔·戴-刘易斯 Daniel Day Lewis 饰)的妻子伊莉莎贝斯(琼·艾伦 Joan Allen 饰)。 约翰一直都将阿比盖尔的狼子野心看在眼里,但由于两人之间的情人关系,他只得保持缄默,直到阿比盖尔将魔爪伸向了伊莉莎贝斯,约翰才明白事态的严重性。约翰向法官告发了阿比盖尔的罪行,然而,却没有人相信他的“胡言乱语”。
1779. Eight-year-old Ludwig van Beethoven, called Louis, is already known as a musical prodigy. He learns to go his own way - much to the dismay of the people around him. Some years later, he meets Mozart during times of political upheaval. The unconventional genius and French Revolution are sparking a fire in Louis' heart; he doesn't want to serve a master - only the arts. Facing times of family tragedies and unrequited love, he almost gives up. However, Louis makes it to Vienna to study under Haydn in 1792, and the rest is history. Who was this man, whose music has since touched countless hearts and minds At the end of his life, the master is isolated by loss of loved ones and hearing. Surely though, he was way ahead of his times.
加斯荷伯(布鲁诺·斯列斯坦 Bruno S. 饰)从小生活在不见天日的地下室里,仅靠稀少的水源和面包维持生命,直到数十年后,早已成年的他才被带离地下室,第一次亲眼看到了外面的大千世界。可是,噩梦并没有结束,他只不过是从一个地狱跌落到了另一个。在人们的眼中,加斯荷伯并非一个有血有肉的人类,只是一个可供研究和玩乐的部件罢了。刚开始,人们对加斯荷伯充满了好奇,并且,这些好奇里包含了某些恶意。渐渐地,对这个无趣而可怜的物体,大家都失去了兴趣,加斯荷伯被送进了马戏团。几经波折之后,被一名学者收留的加斯荷伯终于过上了平静安全的生活,学者教会了他读写,为他打开了了解世界的另一扇大门。没想到,加斯荷伯对于文明和文化有着异常敏锐和深刻的见解,面对他尖锐直白的语言,被戳到痛处的人类愤怒了。