The story of G. I. Gurdjieff and his travels to achieve enlightenment and inner growth, based on his book by the same name. Beginning with his childhood, the movie follows his journeys through Central Asia as he discovers new levels of spirituality through music, dance and near-encounters with death.As a young man exploring ancient ruins, Gurdjieff discovers scrolls confirming the existence of a hidden brotherhood long thought to be extinct. He begins a search that leads through unforeseeable hazards and finally to a school where he learns to bring together all the principles of an esoteric teaching.The film, by renowned director Peter Brook, was made on location in the forbidding, rarely photographed mountains and deserts of Afghanistan, and has been widely acclaimed for its unique visual beauty.