Synopsis

It was as a student that director Neasa Ni Chianain first encountered a celebrated Irish poet. Writing in Ni Chianain's native Irish, the charismatic figure of the poet cast a spell on her: his poetry spoke of the land; also of the deep pain of lost love, loneliness, and a weather-beaten spirit, dark and brooding - as severe as an Irish winter.

Years later, and by then a friend, the poet invites the director to accompany him to film his spiritual home - Nepal. For a decade he has made annual trips there, basking in its gentle generous culture. In return, he has contributed liberally, sponsoring many young boys in their studies. He helps them with stipends, school fees, clothes, bicycles, gives continuously to needy causes, even rallying the Irish artistic community to contribute.

To this impoverished third-world congregation, he is a shaman or even a God.

Through the camera lens, the fairytale shines: it seems as if Nepal, and the love of the boys the poet has helped, has healed a heart wounded by the loss of his first lover in Ireland. Boy after boy interviewed in Nepal speaks warmly of him, of his generosity and affection. The poet basks in all the attention and talks frankly about love, friendship and the innocence of the Nepalese boys he knows.

But all is not what it seems, as soon thereafter, first a hotel manager, and then some Nepalese youths come forward to tell a different tale, and, like the Nepalese prayer flags in the poet's Irish garden, hung bright and new but destined to fade and unravel in the wind, the picture of the kind benefactor falls apart. Unable to believe the allegations about the poet she idolized, the filmmaker is forced to enter the action and confront him.