Suddenly confronted with his own mortality after a routine checkup, eminent
psychotherapist Julius Hertzfeld is forced to reexamine his life and work
-- and seeks out Philip Slate, a sex addict whom he failed to help some
twenty years earlier. Yet Philip claims to be cured -- miraculously
transformed by the pessimistic teachings of German philosopher Arthur
Schopenhauer -- and is, himself, a philosophical counselor in training.
Philips dour, misanthropic stance compels Julius to invite Philip to join
his intensive therapy group in exchange for tutoring on Schopenhauer. But
with mere months left, life may be far too short to help Philip or to
compete with him for the hearts and minds of the group members. And then
again, it might be just long enough.