The gist of the story is easily summed up; Barrett, considered one of the most important innovators on the British psychedelic music scene in the mid-'60s, had an all too short time in the spotlight with Pink Floyd before taking so much LSD that he lost his mind and never recovered. So while there are celebratory moments in the film, the overall mood is that of sadness. Especially heartbreaking is the part of the film where Roger Waters and David Gilmour tell of Barrett's surprise visit to the recording studio on the day Pink Floyd were cutting "Shine on You Crazy Diamond," a song that is about their fallen friend. Bloated and balding and basically unable to communicate, the guys didn't recognize Barrett at first, and Gilmour says everyone wept after Syd left.

Because there is very little footage from the '60s era extant, the filmmakers had to work with still photographs to portray Barrett. There are however a few film clips such as snippets of the Floyd with Barrett in performance at London's UFO Club in 1966. Barrett's condition would get him booted from the band by 1968.

Besides Waters and Gilmour, Floyd members Nick Mason and the late Richard Wright are also interviewed as are early Floyd guitarist Bob Klose, Syd's girlfriend Libby Chisman and others.