A Great Divide 2024

The Korean American Lee family relocates from a bustling California city to a small Wyoming town, hoping for a quieter start, only to discover that the locals view outsiders with suspicion and that the surrounding wilderness comes with its own risks. Father Isaac [Ken Jeong] believes it’s important to try to fit in during this new beginning, while mother Jenna [Jae Suh Park] resists changing her reactions to the chilly residents. Their son Benjamin [Emerson Min] grows homesick, missing his best friend Ellie [Miya Cech], yet the family must stand together as outsiders who must navigate a close-knit community reluctant to embrace change.

To gain a place at a prestigious local school, Benjamin must write an essay about his family. For inspiration, he speaks with his grandmother [MeeWha Alana Lee] about her escape from North Korea and her perilous journey to America, drawing strength from a history that parallels the Lees’ own challenges. He also meets a classmate, Hunter [West Mulholland], who is initially distant, setting up a dynamic that hints at both friction and potential understanding beneath the surface.

Ellie visits Benjamin for several weeks, and one day, on a drive through the countryside, they spot Hunter on a mountain bike trip with his friend Wyatt [Marshall Allman] and the abusive father Tom, who is also a corrupt local ranger. When they realize Hunter has forgotten his helmet, Benjamin lends him one, a small gesture that underscores the uneasy ties between outsiders and the town’s powerful figures. Later, while picking wildflowers, Ellie is bitten by a snake, and Benjamin races to fetch help, bringing Wyatt and Hunter into the moment. Wyatt compels Benjamin to kill the snake before he takes Ellie to the hospital, a shocking test of loyalty and courage.

The incident is leveraged by Tom to pressure the Lees into donating a sizable amount to the ranger station, fueling a heated debate at home. Isaac and Jenna argue over whether to pay or to push back, each drawing on their personal experiences with racism to justify their stance. The pressure exposes fault lines in their relationship, yet also strengthens their resolve to protect one another and preserve their family’s dignity in a town that often errs on the side of conformity.

As Benjamin seeks truth and accountability, he confronts Hunter about Wyatt’s behavior. Hunter responds with a video that absolves Wyatt, empowering the Lees to stand up to Tom and the systemic pressures that seek to keep outsiders in their place. Amid these tensions, Benjamin and Ellie share a quiet, meaningful kiss when she drops him off at the airport for her journey home, signaling a bond that transcends the town’s boundaries.

Back at home, Benjamin finishes his essay with a closing sentiment that hints at a hopeful future: a world in which people aren’t divided by fear or prejudice, and where empathy can bridge the gaps between different lives. The story remains focused on the Lees’ perseverance, the complexities of belonging, and the quiet courage it takes to challenge a community that clings to its own ways, ultimately leaving the door open to a kinder, more inclusive way of living.