In 1964, during a trip to Paris, American writer and art-lover James Lord (Armie Hammer) is asked by Swiss painter and sculptor Alberto Giacometti (Geoffrey Rush), to sit for a portrait. Giacometti promises the portrait will take only a few days. 

Flattered and intrigued, Lord agrees and an offbeat friendship begins, although the American is ultimately frustrated by the tedious process and wonders, "How much longer can it go on like this?"