In the autumn of 1980, a young boy’s coming-of-age story unfolds against a backdrop of societal change and family expectations in James Gray’s poignant drama. Banks Repeta stars as Paul Graff, a sixth-grader navigating the complexities of friendship and identity in Queens, New York. His bond with a charismatic Black classmate, played by Jaylin Webb, challenges the insulated world of his Jewish family, which includes his pragmatic mother Anne Hathaway, his stern father Jeremy Strong, and his compassionate grandfather Anthony Hopkins. As Paul is confronted with the harsh realities of privilege, prejudice, and the American dream, he must reconcile his personal loyalties with the pressures to conform to his family’s ambitions. This deeply personal and reflective film captures the bittersweet moment when childhood innocence collides with the moral compromises of the adult world, painting an intimate portrait of memory, regret, and the indelible marks left by our formative years.