In the French countryside in 1798, farmers catch a glimpse of an unusual creature: a young boy (Jean-Pierre Cargol) who has spent his first twelve years living in the wild. He is placed with Dr. Jean Itard (played by François Truffaut), who sets out to civilize the boy, educating him in the world of things and the language that gives them meaning. Based on a true story, this remarkable film captures that moment when a wild, self-reliant life confronts human language, community structure, and sociability. Utilizing techniques that are at times caring and at others cruel, Itard lays out the underlying tenets of our educational system; unfortunately, he is more interested in teaching learning than in teaching living.