"I envy the Japanese", wrote Van Gogh to his brother Theo. Thanks to the exhibition on which this film is based, at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, we understand why. Although Vincent van Gogh never visited Japan, it remains the country that had the greatest influence on him and his work. By visiting Japanese art galleries in Paris and creating his own image of Japan after extensive research, print collections and lengthy discussions with other artists, the discovery of Japanese art took van Gogh's career in an exciting new direction.