Minneapolis in the early 60's

Young bohemians, painters, jazz musicians, writers and a dancer find each other and strive to support their struggles to "get over", to make it in the inner city art world.

A young Jewish girl becomes intrigued by these turbulent creative people and comes to realize that they are the only help she may ever find for a family crisis.

The fleeting beauty and revolutionary energy of jazz illuminates the lives of these early artists. Several find solace in the healing power of the land during trips up north to woodshed for inspiration. The prices they pay, crisis, failure and triumph are brought to life in the jazzspeak of those times.