At 51, Sam Wagstaff was an innovative curator and provocative exhibitor; it was then he met Robert Mapplethorpe, a young 26 year old photographer who was just starting out on his career. Their relationship – that developed into a love story that would last until they died from AIDS – was instrumental in changing photography into a respected and collectable art-form, and dramatically influenced Mapplethorpe''s work, especially his use of sex and male erotica.

An arts expert with many photographic art books edited by him, James Crump, the director, decided it was time to tell Wagstaff''s story, so long forgotten in Mapplethorpe''s shadow. Crump reveals their relationship with American Rock singer Patti Smith, who was for many years a close friend.