Hillbilly Elegy 2020

The story begins in Jackson, Kentucky in 1997, where J.D. is reflecting on his teenage years while visiting his family, including his grandparents and his mother, Bev. They eventually return to their home in Ohio.

Fast forward fourteen years, J.D. is now attending Yale and managing three jobs while dating a young woman named Usha, who has secured a summer internship in Washington D.C. Eager to follow in her footsteps, he attends an event to network for an internship opportunity. However, his plans take a sudden turn when he receives a call from his sister, Lindsay. She informs him that their mother is in the hospital due to a heroin overdose. Overwhelmed with the gravity of the situation while juggling her job and caring for her three children, Lindsay requests that J.D. return home. This leaves J.D. feeling torn, especially since it’s interview week at Yale.

As he reminisces about his upbringing, he recalls the tumultuous relationship he had with his mother, who was often mentally and emotionally unstable. A significant moment from his childhood involves his passion for Joe Montana and his card collection. One troubling incident features his mother driving recklessly and almost crashing, followed by her physical abuse towards him. Terrified, he escapes from the car and calls the police, leading to her arrest.

In 2011, J.D. makes the drive back to Ohio. A memory from 1997 resurfaces, where his grandparents were there for him as he misleading the police during the incident with his mother, resulting in her release. Upon arriving at the hospital in 2011, he finds his mother yelling at a nurse, only to learn she will be discharged due to lack of health insurance. Amidst this, he receives news about a potential interview the next day.

In his recollection of 1997, J.D.’s grandfather passes away, causing the family to hold a funeral. Meanwhile, Bev, working as a nurse, steals drugs, spiraling into addiction, which ultimately leads to her getting fired. She has countless breakdowns, particularly over her father’s death. By 2011, J.D. and Lindsay work together to secure a spot for Bev in a rehabilitation facility. Despite J.D.’s willingness to pay for her rehab, her refusal to commit makes him doubt her recovery, based on past failures.

The narrative continues with J.D., Lindsay, and Bev moving into the house of her boss, Ken, and her new husband. Bev continues her destructive behavior with drugs, while J.D.’s grandmother is hospitalized due to pneumonia. This environment leads J.D. to act out and vandalize with his new step-brother, Travis, and their friends. Fast-forwarding again to 2011, Bev’s boyfriend discards her belongings, forcing her to confront yet another setback.

Reflecting on his past, J.D. remembers how his grandmother offered him stability during his childhood, guiding him towards academic success and avoiding trouble. Following her passing, J.D. joins the Marines, ultimately utilizing the G.I. Bill to continue his education. As events unfold in 2011, he secures a motel room and food for his mother before driving back to Yale for his critical interview, bridging the past and present in a battle against his family’s struggles.