Austrian-born philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein (Karl Johnson) narrates his own life story with a series of vignettes depicting his life from childhood, his military service during World War I and his time as a Cambridge professor. Young Wittgenstein (Clancy Chassay) crosses paths with fellow academic Bertrand Russell (Michael Gough), British economist John Maynard Keynes (John Quentin) and Lady Ottoline Morrell (Tilda Swinton).