In the decadent and dazzling Venice of the 1910s, a renowned composer at the peak of his career finds himself at an artistic and emotional crossroads. As he feels increasingly trapped by the banality of his success, he decides to escape his monotonous life and takes refuge in the city of canals to find himself and rediscover his creativity. However, his journey of self-discovery quickly turns into an obsession when he encounters a young teenager who captures his attention and awakens deeply repressed emotions within him.
As the days pass, the composer is irremediably drawn to the ethereal beauty of the young man, who symbolizes the youth and vitality he feels he has lost. After romantic strolls and moments charged with tension, the voyeuristic nature of his admiration transforms into a silent anguish. Venice, with its dazzling yet constantly deteriorating beauty, mirrors his mental state as summer progresses and a cholera epidemic threatens the city.
In a narrative that explores the complexity of desire, loss, and mortality, the protagonist must confront his own inner demons as his fascination with the young man leads him to dark places, challenging norms and limits. The story culminates in a reflection on life, art, and the inevitable arrival of the end, all set against the backdrop of a city as beautiful as it is tragic.