19-year-old Bob Dylan arrives in New York City in 1961 seeking to find his hero, an ailing Woody Guthrie. He is embraced by the New York folk scene (Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Joan Baez and others) who recognize his talent. He finds gigs in downtown clubs and soon becomes a sensation, landing a contract with Columbia Records. From there, Dylan ascends to the status of a cultural phenomenon, but ultimately transitions away from folk music as he embraces the electric guitar, confusing his fans and disappointing the music community that first took him in.