What Is Avalon About?
The premise of Avalon in 319 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the bustling streets of early‑twentieth‑century Baltimore, a Polish‑Jewish family arrives with the promise of a fresh start, carrying memories of a war‑torn homeland and a determination to carve out a hopeful future for their children. The city itself pulses with change—new technologies like television flicker into daily life, and the expanding suburbs beckon those who dare to leave cramped neighborhoods behind. Against this backdrop, the film paints a portrait of an immigrant world where familiar customs clash with unfamiliar American rhythms, setting a tone that balances quiet optimism with the underlying tension of cultural displacement.
Sam Krichinsky, a meticulous wallpaper artisan, embodies the old‑world work ethic and the yearning to see his progeny succeed in a land that feels both promising and alien. His son Jules dreams beyond the family trade, teaming up with his cousin Izzy to launch a discount‑appliance venture that hints at the era’s burgeoning consumer culture. Jules’ wife, Ann, represents a newer, more modern female voice; she learns to drive and pushes against the expectations imposed by the formidable matriarch Eva, whose traditional authority still shapes the household. The family’s younger generation, including Michael, Sam’s grandson, confronts the bewildering methods of American schools, while distant relatives like Gabriel hover on the edge of familial tensions, their presence a reminder of the ongoing link to the old country.
The narrative’s atmosphere is one of gentle comedy intertwined with earnest drama, where daily interactions reveal both the charm and the strain of assimilation. As neighborhoods shift and television screens begin to glow in living rooms, each character grapples with the push and pull of identity—whether by adopting new surnames to fit a commercial world or by holding onto the traditions that defined their past. The film invites viewers into a world where hope flickers like a new broadcast, and the promise of prosperity is as fragile and bright as the first light on a suburban street.
What Happens in Avalon?
The complete story of Avalon, from the first scene to the last, in 297 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
It is the late 1940s and early 1950s, and much has happened to the family of Polish Jewish immigrant Sam Krichinsky [Armin Mueller-Stahl] since he first arrived in America in 1914 and eventually settled in Baltimore.
Television is new, neighborhoods are changing, and the Krichinskys watch a nation in transition as they adapt to the suburbs, repainting wallpaper and chasing a brighter future beyond the old habitudes.
Jules [Aidan Quinn] and his cousin Izzy [Israel Rubinek] dream of opening a large discount-appliance store and perhaps even have their own TV commercials, signaling a bold step from familiar trades to entrepreneurial ambition.
Jules and his wife, Ann [Elizabeth Perkins], still live with his parents, while Eva [Joan Plowright], his formidable mother-in-law, rules the household with a confident, sometimes stern, hand.
Ann is a modern woman who learns to drive, though Eva refuses to ride with her and instead takes the streetcar, a small but pointed symbol of the clash between new independence and old ways.
The family contributes to a fund to bring more relatives to America, a testament to enduring ties and the pull of memory that continues to shape every choice.
Slights—real or imagined—creep in as Jules and Ann move to the suburbs, and Uncle Gabriel [Lou Jacobi] becomes offended when a Thanksgiving greeting arrives late, sparking a long-running feud with Sam.
Sam cannot quite understand the methods his grandson Michael [Elijah Wood]’s teachers use in school, while Jules and Izzy pursue their business dreams and even change their surnames to Kaye and Kirk, signaling new identities in a changing economy.
Meanwhile, crises unfold: an armed holdup, a devastating fire, and the way the family must come together to endure each blow, learning that loyalty, memory, and shared history are the glue that keeps them afloat.
Avalon Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
12 key events in the order they happen, from “Arrival and settlement of Sam Krichinsky” to “A new era for the Krichinsky family”. 12 events name a place, across 7 locations.
- 1
Arrival and settlement of Sam Krichinsky
Sam Krichinsky arrives in America in 1914 as a Polish Jewish immigrant and settles in Baltimore, laying the groundwork for a long family story. The film then moves forward to the late 1940s, showing how much has changed since his arrival. This opening frames the family’s roots and the city that shapes their lives.
When:1914 Where:Baltimore
- 2
Television arrives and changes the neighborhood
In the late 1940s, television becomes a new medium that alters daily life as more families move to the suburbs. Sam remains a wallpaper professional while Jules dreams of bigger business, considering a discount-appliance store and even their own TV commercials. The era signals a shift toward media-driven entrepreneurship for the family.
When:late 1940s Where:Baltimore
- 3
Plans for a discount-appliance store
Jules and his cousin Izzy discuss opening a large discount-appliance store and possibly promoting it with TV spots. They navigate the realities of family life as they sketch out this entrepreneurial dream. The idea exemplifies the new suburban ambition sweeping through the city.
When:late 1940s Where:Krichinsky home, Baltimore
- 4
Ann learns to drive; Eva resists modernization
Ann, a modern woman, learns to drive as the family adapts to new freedoms, while Eva clings to tradition and refuses to ride with her. The household shows a clash between generations and gender roles. The car becomes a symbol of change within the Krichinsky home.
When:late 1940s Where:Krichinsky home
- 5
Funding to bring more relatives to America
The family quietly contributes to a fund aimed at bringing more relatives to America, reinforcing the ongoing immigrant story. Tensions and expectations simmer as distance and travel remain a challenge. The gesture signals loyalty to kin across the Atlantic and beyond.
When:late 1940s Where:Baltimore
- 6
Jules and Ann move to the suburbs
Jules and Ann finally move to the suburbs, marking a turning point in their family narrative. The relocation creates distance from Sam’s parents and makes visits more arduous for relatives. The move embodies postwar suburban growth and the evolving dynamics of the family.
When:early 1950s Where:Suburban Baltimore
- 7
Thanksgiving confrontation and Uncle Gabriel's feud
Uncle Gabriel arrives late for Thanksgiving and discovers a turkey has already been carved, feeling slighted and offended. The incident sparks a long-running feud with Sam that tests family loyalties. The moment reveals the fragile balance between affection and pride in the clan.
When:Thanksgiving Day, early 1950s Where:Sam's home
- 8
Surname changes and the start of new careers
Jules and Izzy change their surnames to Kaye and Kirk as they pursue their business careers, signaling a new professional identity. The adjustments reflect the younger generation’s drive to redefine their place in America. The family’s name itself becomes a small act of reinvention.
When:early 1950s Where:Baltimore
- 9
Michael’s education and parental questions
Sam cannot understand the methods his grandson Michael’s teachers use in school, highlighting generational differences in upbringing. The scene contrasts old-world wary wisdom with new schooling approaches. It emphasizes the family’s struggle to bridge generations within an evolving society.
When:early 1950s Where:Michael's school
- 10
Armed holdup and a devastating fire
The family endures a dangerous armed holdup and a devastating fire, testing their resilience and solidarity. Through the crisis, everyone rallies to protect each other and salvage what they can. The events underscore how fragile safety can be, yet how strong their bonds remain.
When:early 1950s Where:Neighborhood/household
- 11
Family endures and bonds grow stronger
Despite tensions and disasters, the Krichinskys pull through together, their bonds deepening as they support one another. Shared history and mutual care help them navigate loss, fear, and change. The family’s unity becomes the thread that holds the various narratives together.
When:early 1950s Where:Baltimore
- 12
A new era for the Krichinsky family
The timeline closes with the sense that change is ongoing: new ventures, suburban life, and the continuing immigrant saga shape the family’s future. The film leaves the audience with a portrait of resilience, adaptation, and the evolving American dream. The Krichinskys stand as a microcosm of postwar American Jewish immigrant success and reconciliation.
When:1950s Where:Baltimore
Who Are the Main Characters in Avalon?
7 characters, among them Sam Krichinsky, Eva Krichinsky and Jules Krichinsky: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Sam Krichinsky
Played by Armin Mueller-Stahl
Patriarch of the Krichinsky family and a Polish Jewish immigrant who built a wallpaper business in Baltimore. He is practical, protective, and deeply rooted in tradition, yet capable of adapting when crises strain the family. His leadership anchors the clan as they navigate a changing postwar world.
- 🧰 Wallpaper craftsman
- 🕰️ Patriarch
- 🧭 Immigrant roots
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Eva Krichinsky
Played by Joan Plowright
Sam’s opinionated mother-in-law who dominates the household. She embodies the older generation’s stubborn pride and insistence on tradition, often clashing with younger family members. Her presence adds tension but also drives moments of humor and reconciliation.
- 💪 Dominant matriarch
- 🧭 Family anchor
- 🧩 Intergenerational tension
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Jules Krichinsky
Played by Aidan Quinn
Sam and Eva’s son who dreams of bigger business and success. He aims to open a large discount-appliance store with his cousin Izzy, possibly even making TV commercials. Jules embodies the drive to modernize and capitalize on postwar prosperity, while balancing family obligations.
- 💼 Ambitious entrepreneur
- 🚀 Modernizing dreams
- 🧭 Family ties
-
Ann Krichinsky
Played by Elizabeth Perkins
Jules’s wife, a modern woman learning to navigate a changing household. She drives new milestones (literally, in learning to drive) and negotiates the expectations of her mother-in-law and husband. Her perspective reflects the evolving role of women in postwar America.
- 🌆 Modern woman
- 🚗 Independent spirit
- 🧭 Family support
-
Michael Krichinsky
Played by Elijah Wood
Sam and Eva’s grandson who represents the next generation experiencing the shifts between old world traditions and new American possibilities. His experiences highlight intergenerational differences and the family’s enduring bond.
- 👶 Grandson
- 🧭 Bridge between generations
- 🕊️ Innocence amid change
- I
Izzy
Played by Israel Rubinek
Jules’s cousin and business partner who shares the dream of a big, modern venture. He helps push the family toward new opportunities, including a potential TV presence. Izzy embodies the collaborative, entrepreneurial spirit fueling postwar ambition.
- 🤝 Cousin partner
- 💡 Startup spirit
- 🧭 Family collaboration
- G
Gabriel
Played by Lou Jacobi
Uncle Gabriel, whose clash over a Thanksgiving incident triggers a long-standing feud with Sam. His memory of family slights underscores how pride and grudges can complicate the path to unity during hard times.
- 🤬 Feuding relative
- 🕰️ Family history
- 🧭 Points of contention
Where and When Is Avalon Set?
Avalon is set in Baltimore and Maryland (Late 1940s – early 1950s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Late 1940s – early 1950s
Set in the immediate postwar era, the story tracks how families like the Krichinskys adjust to peacetime prosperity and new technologies. Suburban expansion and a consumer-driven culture begin to redefine daily life, with television and household appliances entering more homes. Generational shifts and changing gender roles also shape how family members interact and pursue their dreams.
Where
Baltimore, Maryland
The Krichinsky family makes its home in Baltimore, a city with distinct neighborhoods that shaped Jewish immigrant life. The film follows both the older, tightly-knit inner city and the later move to the suburbs, reflecting a city in transition after World War II. Baltimore serves as the backdrop for the family’s efforts to establish roots in America while balancing tradition and aspiration.
- 🏙️ Baltimore
- 🧳 Immigrant family
- 🕰️ Postwar America
What Are the Themes of Avalon?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Family, Assimilation and Modern Life.
-
01
Family
At its core, Avalon explores loyalty, obligation, and resilience within a multi-generational immigrant family. Crises—from theft to fire—test bonds, while humor and pain reveal how love keeps relatives connected. The film emphasizes how shared history and mutual support sustain the family through change.
-
02
Assimilation
The Krichinskys negotiate life as Polish Jewish immigrants building a new home in America. Names change as Jules and Izzy chart career paths, signaling a shift toward American identity. The story examines how tradition and modern ambitions intersect, shaping each character’s sense of belonging.
-
03
Modern Life
The advent of television and consumer culture becomes a catalyst for new dreams and social dynamics. Jules and Izzy’s business ambitions—discount appliances and even potential TV commercials—illustrate how technology reshapes family aspirations. Suburbia, new mobility, and changing roles redefine daily life for the Krichinskys.
What Kind of Film Is Avalon?
Bittersweet in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Bittersweet
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A reflective and nostalgic family drama that captures the bittersweet clash between old-world traditions and modern American life, balancing moments of familial tension with an underlying sense of hope and resilience.
- nostalgic
- melancholic
- hopeful
- domestic
- reflective
- sentimental
- immigrant experience
- family conflict
- generational divide
- cultural adaptation
Content notes: armed robbery.
Quiz
How well do you remember Avalon? Test yourself on the story.
