Following the unusual journey of an original and unique violin (painted red with the blood of his beloved and deceased wife), as it survives three centuries to a present-day auction in Montreal. The violin weaves a Svengali over all those who play it and becomes the subject of passion, deception and destruction. It passes through the hands of traveling Gypsies, a famous concert violinist in England to near-confiscation in Communist China, the violin manages to survive the different lives of those it touches.In present day it again becomes the subject of fascination for a violin historian, played by Samuel L. Jackson. On discovering that he has stumbled upon the much sought after 'Red Violin', he considers instigating a deception of his own kind.
A skilled craftsman makes a violin for his unborn child. When tragedy strikes and his wife and child are killed he decides to finish the violin. The story follows the instrument as it travels across the centuries and changes hands many times...