In 1992 Photographer Masahisa Fukase has turned his back on the world, shutting himself away in his blacked out apartment during the day and drinking himself to oblivion each night at his favourite bar.

With a sense of impending death, Fukase’s only remaining ambition is to capture the moment on film. But when Miyako Ishiuchi, a young female photographer inspired by the works of Fukase pays him a visit with the intention of photographing his bodily scars, it begins to drag up in Fukase long buried memories.

In those earlier times Fukase’s life as a photographer was not what he imagined when he moved to Tokyo and abandoned his destiny to inherit his family’s photographic business in Hokkaido. As a result the already strained relationship with his abusive and distant parents was irrevocably fractured. Fukase finds strength in the form of Tsukuyomi, an eight foot humanoid with a Raven’s head who acts as a ‘shadow spirit’ on Fukase’s path towards being an artist in a rapidly changing Japan.

Into this drifting life comes Yoko Wanibe as strong as she is beautiful – their stars align and Fukase and Yoko marry. With Yoko becoming the sole focus of Fukase’s art, the couple create work that is as revolutionary as it is personal. But Yoko harbours ambitions of her own which Fukase initially supports. Fuelled by drink, drugs and a damaging visit by his father, the couple start to wrestle with mutual insecurities and ambitions until Fukase betrays Yoko’s trust and dreams to be a theatre instructor.

Returning North Fukase attempts to reconcile with his family but the visit only ends in disaster when Fukase is beaten by his father and his mother remains emotionally unavailable. Fukase seeks to escape his pain via his relentless pursuit of Yoko’s image which slowly begins to wear her down. However with his work finally recognised by the Museum of Modern Art in New York, it offers a moment of respite for the fast disintegrating marriage.

The New York show is a great success but it is Yoko who is the star attraction. Fukase’s insecurities return and he angrily accuses Yoko of stealing his limelight.