At the age of 12 Sölvi is a homeless orphan in an isolated and poor parish in the north of Iceland. He dreams of becoming the greatest man in Iceland. Despite his hopeless situation he is determined to make his dream come true. According to the Danish colonial rule, vagrancy is a crime, but Sölvi goes on the road in search of opportunities, education and adventure. He is in love with life, art and beauty. He paints and draws, his creations come alive in his mind. He writes poetry and lays the foundation of his own philosophy.