Tony Palmer directs this film documenting Leonard Cohen's 1972 'Bird On a Wire' tour. The 20-city European tour, which began in Dublin on 18 March 1972 and ended on 21 April in Jerusalem, caught Cohen at the pinnacle of his career despite the concerts being plagued by technical and personal problems. Palmer splices Vietnam War footage and home movies from Cohen's childhood into the performance footage, creating a powerful testament to the singer's unique fusion of poetry and politics.