The film tells the story of Ludwigs relationship with the actor Josef Kainz (an actor famous at the time for his voice) during a cruise in 1881. The actor being required to recreate the personages he plays in the theatre from a story which takes place around the lake, at the actual locations around the lake. The actor arrives pompous with the thought of being asked to personally accompany Ludwig. The wind is taken out of his sails a little when the butler tells him that the king did not invite Josef Kainz but the personages he plays.
