Profile of dramatic Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel, who mesmerised audiences in the 1950s and 60s with the sheer ferocity of his performances and by deep, dark lyrics that widened the definition of what a popular song could be about. Though his work is revered throughout the French-speaking world, he is still seen as a cult figure in Britain. The film uses archive footage and interviews with family, friends and celebrity fans to tell the story of his brief yet extraordinary life.