影片讲述了县剧团的小名角彩云到上海寻找“明星梦”的故事。彩云在上海投靠了从小青梅竹马的朋友——担任摄影助理的阿伟之后,突然明白大上海是如此千变万化的世界,阿伟也只能住在即将拆迁的房子里。梦想变得遥不可及,但是阿伟却在理想主义潘导演的影响下,拍摄着老电影人赵丹和黄宗英的纪录片。赵丹和黄宗英对于电影的热爱,以及俩人在拍电影时产生的爱情,这些都对应着彩云与阿伟之间的生活和爱情。A young actress, successful in her small hometown, seeks fame and fortune in the big city. She goes to live with a friend, who is currently making a film about Zhao Dan. They live in a building about to be destroyed. Can their differing visions of art and love come to pass, or will heartbreak put an end to their relationship, as it does to the old Shanghai?