The opening of the film shows us a montage of Adolf Hitler's life from the years 1899-1907. The 10-year old Hitler (Thomas Sangster) is shown to be arrogant and disobedient. He has a stern, ill-tempered father, Alois Hitler (Ian Hogg), and a doting mother, Klara Hitler (Stockard Channing), who indulges his dreams of becoming a great artist. One day, his father dies of a heart attack but the young Hitler shows no empathy or concern. Seven years later, a 17-year old Hitler (Simon Sullivan) applies unsuccessfully to the Vienna Arts Academy but is told he lacks the talent to become an artist. Following his mother’s death, he moves to Vienna permanently but is unable to find work and soon becomes destitute and homeless. Influenced by the city’s prevalent anti-semitism, young Hitler becomes convinced that the Jews and immigrants are to blame for his misfortunes.