In the 1920s, the Pettigrews live on the family estate of Gamma Macintosh (Harris) in the Scottish Highlands. Eccentric would-be inventor Edward (Firth) ineffectually manages the property, with wife Moira (Mastrantonio) and his children, including mischievious 10-year-old Fraser (Norman). Fraser's safe world is rocked by the arrival of his businessman Uncle Morris (McDowell) and his uncle's seductive French fiancee, Heloise (Jacob), who draws the immediate and overly attentive gaze of Edward. Based on the autobiographical book "Son of Adam" by Sir Denis Forman.