Jamie Foxx stars as Nathaniel Ayers, a former violin prodigy whose bouts with schizophrenia landed him on the streets after two years of schooling at Juilliard. Steve Lopez is a disenchanted journalist dealing with a recent divorce. Steve is wandering through Los Angeles' Skid Row when he spots Ayers. The more Steve learns about Ayers, the more he longs to help the troubled soul.