No understanding of the modern movement in architecture is possible without knowledge of its master builder, Mies van der Rohe. Together with documentations of his life, this film reviews all his major work and offers rare footage of Mies explaining his philosophy. Phyllis Lambert relates her choice of Mies for the Seagram Building. Mies' achievements and continuing influence are debated by architects Robert A.M. Stern, Robert Venturi, and Philip Johnson, as well as architectural historians and his former students.