When You Finish Saving the World 2023

Ziggy Katz, a 17-year-old high school student from Indiana, stands out as a loner with a passion for original folk-rock music. He cultivates a dedicated online following that eagerly anticipates his performances. However, his artistic pursuits perplex his formal and uptight mother, Evelyn, who dedicates her life to running a shelter for survivors of domestic abuse. Despite her best efforts to bond, Evelyn feels a growing disconnect from Ziggy. She suggests they volunteer together at her shelter, but Ziggy, ever the aspiring entrepreneur, opts instead to focus on his lucrative live-streaming career.

In his quest for connection, Ziggy has his eye on Lila, a passionate activist in his class. Determined to get closer to her, he attends a local political arts festival after school, where Lila inspires him to leverage his platform for social awareness. She reads a powerful poem addressing the colonization of the Marshall Islands, something that deeply resonates with Ziggy, who compliments her work and borrows some lines for his own music. Meanwhile, Evelyn encounters Kyle, a fellow 17-year-old at the shelter who was brought there after he bravely called the police to help rescue his mother from an abusive situation. Impressed by Kyle’s compassion, Evelyn proposes he volunteer with her and even promises to help him secure a scholarship to Oberlin College in Ohio, despite Kyle’s hesitation, as he prefers to work at his father’s auto shop instead.

Tensions boil over as Ziggy’s father, Roger, confronts both mother and son for missing his awards ceremony at work, branding them narcissists for their self-absorbed pursuits. The following morning, seeking guidance, Ziggy asks Evelyn how to be seen as political to impress Lila, only to be met with disdain as Evelyn doubts the genuineness of his interest in these causes. Meanwhile, as Evelyn begins to bond with Kyle during their time spent volunteering, she embraces a motherly role, while Ziggy’s and Evelyn’s relationship remains strained and tumultuous.

In a moment of creativity, Ziggy transforms Lila’s poem into a song and performs it for her, hoping to impress her. However, his priorities clash dramatically that night when, after refusing to join his family for dinner to focus on his streaming, Evelyn discreetly takes his leftovers to offer to Kyle at the shelter, who ultimately turns down the food, having already eaten. The next morning, Kyle’s mother arrives at the shelter, angrily confronting Evelyn about pressuring her son to attend college when he has his heart set on working with his father. Conflicted, Evelyn seeks out Kyle in school, only to find he stands firm in his decision.

At the same time, Ziggy brags to Lila about the attention he drew during his live stream by performing the song inspired by her poem, reveling in the attention and profit it brings. Lila, however, is disappointed by his commercialized approach. As Ziggy continues to navigate his feelings, he decides to visit the shelter, unwittingly drawing closer to his mother’s world. In an unexpected twist, while Evelyn watches Ziggy’s old videos, their paths prepare to converge in a face-to-face meeting that could redefine their relationship.