A Great Divide 2024

The Lees relocate from California to Wyoming

The Lee family leaves California and arrives in a small Wyoming town, starting a new life far from their familiar city. They anticipate challenges as outsiders, and the move marks the beginning of tensions with a community wary of outsiders. Isaac hopes to fit in, while Jenna remains wary of changing the family’s dynamics.

Isaac aims to fit in, Jenna resists

Isaac believes in the importance of fitting in with the new community, seeing it as essential for their security and future. Jenna resists, clinging to her own reactions and memories of racism that shape how she responds to neighbors. The couple's differing approaches create early friction within the family.

Benjamin longs for Ellie

Benjamin feels homesick for his best friend Ellie as he adjusts to a new school and unfamiliar faces. He wrestles with isolation in a town that treats outsiders with caution. The longing for Ellie hints at the role she will later play in his life in Wyoming.

Essay and grandmother's North Korea story

To try to win a place at a prestigious local school, Benjamin must write an essay about his family. He spends time with his grandmother, who shares her escape from North Korea and the journey to America, shaping Benjamin's sense of resilience. The stories connect his family's past to the town's expectations and identity.

Benjamin meets Hunter, who is initially cold

Benjamin first meets Hunter, a classmate who is initially cold and guarded. The encounter foreshadows deeper tensions as outsiders navigate trust within the school and town. Their wary dynamic becomes a through-line in Benjamin’s adjustment.

Ellie visits Benjamin for weeks

Ellie visits Benjamin for several weeks, providing companionship and a link to his old life. The visits help him cope with homesickness and the challenges of being new in town. Their growing closeness shows how friendships cross distances in a close-knit community.

Countryside drive reveals Hunter, Wyatt, and Tom

On a countryside drive, Benjamin, Ellie, and Hunter encounter Wyatt and Hunter’s abusive father, Tom, a corrupt local ranger. The moment exposes the town’s hidden menace and the precarious power held by Tom and his allies. It becomes a turning point that tests the Lees’ resolve to stand up to intimidation.

Helmet loan and rising tension

Hunter forgets his helmet during the outing, and Benjamin lends him one, signaling a small gesture of trust. The act highlights how fragile trust remains in a town suspicious of outsiders. The scene also foreshadows the later conflicts involving Tom’s control.

Ellie bitten by a snake; rescue and coercion by Wyatt

While picking wildflowers, Ellie is bitten by a snake and Benjamin rushes for help. He convinces Wyatt and Hunter to intervene and take Ellie to the hospital, though Wyatt pressures Benjamin to kill the snake first. The snake turns out to be harmless, exposing the ranger’s extortion and testing the family’s unity.

Tom extorts donation after the incident

Tom uses the incident to demand a sizable donation to the ranger station, exploiting the Lees’ vulnerability. Isaac and Jenna argue over whether to pay or resist, each drawing on their own experiences with racism to justify their stance. The confrontation reveals the town’s power dynamics and the pressure to conform.

Confrontation builds after Hunter’s video

Benjamin visits Hunter and asks him to tell the truth about Wyatt. Hunter sends a video that absolves Wyatt, enabling the Lees to confront Tom more directly. The revelation redirects blame and strengthens the family’s resolve to stand up to the corrupt ranger.

Benjamin and Ellie share a kiss at the airport

Benjamin and Ellie share a kiss when dropping her off at the airport as she returns home. The moment deepens their bond amid ongoing town tensions. It underscores the personal stakes driving Benjamin’s hope for change.