The film is a fictionalised retelling of the life of Baroque painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.

Told in a segmented fashion, the film opens as Caravaggio dies from lead poisoning while in exile, with only his long-time, mute companion Jerusaleme, who was given by his family to the artist as a boy, by his side.

While taken ill and in the care of priests, young Caravaggio catches the eye of Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte.

Caravaggio is shown employing street people, drunks and prostitutes as models for his intense, usually religious paintings.

One day, Ranuccio, a street fighter for pay, catches Caravaggio's eye as a subject and potential lover.

[citation needed] The production designer was Christopher Hobbs who was also responsible for the copies of Caravaggio paintings seen in the film.

The DVD is compatible with all region codes and includes special features such as the trailer, a gallery of production designs and storyboards, feature commentary by Gabriel Berestain, an interview with Christopher Hobbs titled Italy of the Memory, and interviews with Tilda Swinton, Derek Jarman, Nigel Terry.