Can a talent become a curse? For Laszlo Spiro the answer is ?yes?. Learning at his father's knees, young Laszlo soon surpasses his father's ability for art forgery. Near the end of World War II in Budapest, Hungary, Laszlo is hidden in the house of the man who markets his forgeries as real works of art. It is there that he meets a beautiful young maid named Magda. Their lives will forever be intertwined even though they become separated. But it is at this point that Laszlo's life begins a downward spiral. Taken to a concentration camp, he is forced to continue his forgeries unwillingly. Although he makes many efforts to achieve happiness, the curse of his talents continually thwarts him from achieving his dream. His life unfolds in the turbulent years of the ?cold war?. Will he ever be reunited with Magda? Only time will tell.