Artist Mélissa Hébert - fictional descendant of the first colonist in New France - is commissioned to paint a portrait of Samuel de Champlain, explorer and founder of Quebec City. In her studio overlooking Quebec's magnificent Old City, the artist tries to grasp the essence of the man. Suddenly, division between worlds, senses and dimensions melt away and the artist passes through a tear in the canvas into the third dimension - and into the visionary explorer's expansive world.