On Easter Sunday, Dominic Matei (Tim Roth) takes a train from his home in Piatra Neamt to Bucharest, arriving at the onset of a rainstorm. He intends to kill himself by swallowing a lethal amount of strychnine, stashed in a blue envelope under his arm. But fate  intervenes, and whilst opening his umbrella he is struck by lightning.

Taken to a local hospital, he not only survives, but within a short time presents an appearance decades younger than his actual 70 years. The electrical  discharge has set in motion a regenerative process -   or so believes his primary doctor, Professor Stanciulescu (Bruno Ganz).

While recuperating, Dominic is haunted by memories of Laura (Alexandra Maria Lara), the irreplaceable love of his youth, who broke their engagement   because she found him unreachable, and later died   in childbirth. Never marrying, Dominic has devoted his life to studying the origins of language. He believes language orders human consciousness and plays a significant role in creating our sense of time. His theories and ruminations are part of a magnum opus he is desperate to complete before dying.

When told his youth is returning, Dominic is incredulous but thrilled. This new lease of life gives him more time for writing and research. But danger lurks.

The Nazis whose spies and agents are everywhere enthral Romanian extremists. Dubious parties show interest in Dominic because of studies published by  the Professor. He feels unsafe which forces him into exile. On the run, he is reunited with his lost love,  Laura, and works to complete his research into the origins of human language. When his research threatens the well being of Laura, Dominic is forced to choose between his life’s work and the great love of his life.