The film shows Leonard Cohen on a spring 1972 tour of Europe and Israel, accompanied by two guitarists; a bass and fiddle player; Bob Johnston, a record producer, and backup singers Donna Washburn and Jennifer Warnes. It begins toward the end of the tour in Tel Aviv, and shows Cohen scolding aggressive security guards during a fan riot. Considerable technical problems plagued Cohen throughout the tour, including constant audio difficulties that resulted in a tense confrontation with fans in Berlin who wanted a refund because the show ended early.