Michael, a young man living in a deteriorating student flat in Hamilton, New Zealand, shares his life with his close friend, David. Unfortunately, Michael receives devastating news after undergoing medical tests: he has terminal liver cancer. In an effort to cope with this life-altering diagnosis, Michael resorts to heavy drinking and chooses to keep his condition a secret from his friends. However, with the support from his friends, particularly David, he slowly begins to confront his reality. Through photographs, we learn about Michael's troubled past, including the sad loss of his mother to cancer.
In an unexpected show of solidarity, the tight-knit community of Cambridge, where Michael grew up, rallies together to fundraise $200,000 to help him access an experimental medical program in the United States. Yet, Michael harbors doubts about this new treatment, aware of its meager 10% success rate and concerned about potential side effects. In a moment of raw sincerity, he confesses to David that he had a one-night stand with David's girlfriend. This revelation angers David, who retreats in a fit of rage, leaving Michael to wrestle with his regrets and fears.
Feeling suffocated and wanting to live life fully, Michael makes a bold decision: he will leave New Zealand behind and embark on a journey around the globe during his remaining time. In a reckless act, he scams the $200,000 and escapes New Zealand, making a brief stop in Hong Kong before heading to London. There, he immerses himself in a world of indulgence, frequenting noxious nightclubs and drinking to excess.
One night, while trying to flirt with a woman, Michael finds himself under attack from her boyfriend. He awakens, battered and bruised, in an alleyway, where he encounters Sylvie. They share coffee, and when she asks him where they should go next, he responds, “how about Paris?” This encounter marks the beginning of an unexpected romance as they traverse a picturesque yet frigid Europe, visiting cities like Paris, Munich, and Berlin.
Although Sylvie initially resists Michael's romantic advances, their connection deepens, and they soon become lovers. As Michael’s health declines, Sylvie confronts him about his illness, grappling with emotions that lead her to seek comfort in another man. When Michael discovers this betrayal, he is devastated and prepares to leave, but ultimately finds it in his heart to forgive her.
Tragically, it is revealed that Sylvie has been coping with her own grief, having recently suffered a miscarriage from a past relationship. A poignant moment occurs while they are driving in Germany; during some light-hearted play-fighting, Sylvie unexpectedly jerks the steering wheel, resulting in a deliberate crash. Following the accident, Michael awakens in a German hospital to the shocking news that Sylvie has died. To make matters worse, he faces arrest for fraud due to his prior actions in New Zealand and is now suspected of being involved in Sylvie's fatal accident.
Overcome with grief, Michael later wakes to find David at his bedside, having flown from New Zealand to bring him home. With the help of a sympathetic doctor, who advises him to escape before the police can detain him, Michael and David seize upon one final chance to live life to the fullest. They travel to Monaco, where they enjoy a night of formal gambling at a casino, ultimately hitting the jackpot and winning a significant amount of money.
Intending to return to New Zealand the following day, Michael, now in a dire state of health, secretly slips out of their hotel after leaving a note for David. He makes his way to Venice, where he reflects on a photograph of his mother taken in the same breathtaking location. In a tragic twist, he decides to overdose on his cancer medication, mixing it with excessive amounts of wine. As he gazes out at the stunning views of Venice, Michael chooses to end his life on his own terms, leaving the world behind with a sense of peace.
