An Imaginary Life

Exiled from the vibrant intellectual and social life of imperial Rome, the celebrated poet Publius Ovidius Naso finds himself marooned in a desolate village on the fringes of the Black Sea, his native Latin tongue rendered useless among its 'barbarian' inhabitants. Stripped of his identity and struggling to find meaning in his harsh new reality, Ovid navigates a world where ancient superstitions and raw survival replace urban sophistication. His isolation is profoundly challenged by the discovery of a feral child, a 'wolf-boy' who has grown up outside human society. This improbable encounter sparks a profound and transformative journey for Ovid. Through their interactions, the poet of refined language and the child of pure instinct slowly bridge the chasm between civilization and nature, silence and expression, ultimately redefining what it means to be human and the power of connection in the face of utter otherness.