A famous pianist (Patrick Stewart) struggling with stage fright late in his career finds inspiration with a free-spirited music critic (Katie Holmes). CODA also stars Giancarlo Esposito.

In early 20th century Vienna, Stefan Brand is in the process of fleeing on the eve of a duel he wants no part of. However, before he can do so, he receives an anonymous letter from an unknown woman. Stefan is deeply moved by what he reads and starts to realize that the letter's author is Lisa Berndl, a young woman he's known but disregarded for most of his life.

Charlie Kohler is a piano player in a bar. Lena, a waitress at the bar, is in love with him. One of Charlie's brothers, Chico, a crook, takes refuge in the bar because he is being chased by two gangsters, Momo and Ernest. But Charlie's real name is Edouard Saroyan, who was once a virtuoso who gave up playing after his wife's suicide. Charlie now has to deal wih Chico, Ernest, Momo, Fido (his youngest brother who lives with him), and Lena. Charlie...

After a long stay in ex-gay conversion therapy, James, a young piano prodigy, returns home to his family farm and his emotionally distant father, Richard. After Richard pressures James to give up on his music career and take over the farm, James agrees as a way to make up for his past. Soon, however, James finds himself face to face with a former lover, Charlie, who wants to help him turn away from his new beliefs and family expectations, and follow...