Pablo Picasso is one of the greatest artists of all time – and until his death in 1973 he was also the most prolific artist. Many films have approached the last years of his life – his art, his relationships and his generous circle of friends. But where did it all start? How was Picasso formed? Somewhat overlooked is the period of Picasso’s youth, how he was raised and what he learned, his training, which led to his extraordinary achievements.

Three cities play a key role: Malaga, Barcelona and Paris. Young Picasso explores their influence on the artist, focusing on specific works from his early years. The film attempts to explain how Picasso developed his skills as a young artist. Looking closely at two key periods – the so-called Blue period and the Pink period – the film takes us until 1907, when a key painting in the history of art was made: the ladies from Avignon. It was a painting that shocked the art world and changed it irrevocably. Picasso was only 25 years old. In close collaboration with the three Picasso museums in Malaga, Barcelona and Paris, the film explains how Picasso got so high.