"My friend Beuys" is a biography of the Saarland artist Claude Jaté. The film tells of various stages in the life of the schizophrenic painter, his love, important acquaintances and the hard struggle of life with an illness that causes chaos in his head. He finds coping in art and a new passion is kindled in him. The film shows the ups and downs of the artist, whose life takes place far from fame and glory.