James Gray (Ad Astra, Little Odessa) mines his own personal history for this powerful story of family, friendship, prejudice, ambition and the American Dream in 1980s New York City.

Queens, New York, two months before the election of Ronald Reagan as President. Paul (Banks Repeta) is a slightly awkward Jewish boy on the cusp of adolescence, starting sixth grade with visible nerves. Cloistered by his parents (Anne Hathaway and Jeremy Strong) but devoted to his grandfather (Anthony Hopkins), Paul becomes fast friends with Johnny (Jaylin Webb), the only Black pupil in his class. But after the pair find themselves in trouble, Paul is sent to a private school across town – and is quickly forced to face up to the realities of a society changing before his eyes. Outstanding performances help Gray paint a vivid picture of a society and a country in flux.