An 18th century poet travels through time in search of divine wisdom. In a mysterious wasteland, he has a series of enigmatic encounters with symbolic phantoms with whom he muses about the nature of art and his own career. Ultimately, the poet strives to achieve his rebirth as a celestial being.

Jean Cocteau
as Le poète

Édouard Dermithe
as Cégeste(non crédité)

Henri Crémieux
as Le professeur(non crédité)

François Périer
as Heurtebise(non crédité)

Claudine Auger
as Minerve (non crédité)

Françoise Arnoul
as Elle-même (non crédité)

Lucia Bosè
as Une amie d'Orphée(non crédité)

Charles Aznavour
as Le Curieux(non crédité)

Brigitte Bardot
as Elle-même (non crédité)

Jean Marais
as Oedipe