20世纪30年代，少女时期的Judith Dunbar (Keira Knightley)是一个安静、温和的女孩。由于她在殖民地的父母的缘故，她被送去寄宿学校。Judith在她姑姑和监护人死后，被她最好的朋友Loveday Carey Lewis (Poppy Gaye)的家庭收养。Judith 热爱他们的家南切罗庄园，并与Loveday的哥哥Edward (Paul Bettany)相爱。战争开始，所有人受到波及。Judith (Emily Mortimer)失去了双亲，而Loveday (Katie Ryder Richardson)的未婚夫也死于战火。Judith 与Loveday的另一个兄长相爱。而Edward在战争中双目失明，最终选择带有尊严的死亡。

A tale about two young boys, Prosper and Bo, who flee to Venice after being orphaned and dumped in the care of a cruel auntie. Hiding in the canals and alleyways of the city, the boys are befriended by a gang of young urchins and their enigmatic leader, the Thief Lord. From their home base of an old cinema theater, the children steal from the rich to support themselves and soon capture the interest of a bumbling detective. However, a greater threat to the children is something from a forgotten past - a beautiful magical treasure with the power to spin time itself