In 1974, in the suburb of Port Chester, New York, the teenager aspirant artist John Talia has a troubled relationship with his homophobic father that does not understand his talent. While visiting his friend Yammi, John finds that the genius Russian painter Nicoli Seroff lives nearby and he decides to pay a visit to his idol. John finds a bitter alcoholic elder that still grieves the loss of his wife Anya many years ago but he successfully befriends the master. When Nicoli travels to the countryside in Pennsylvania, he invites John to go with him to teach him how to paint. Then John meets Nicoli's neighbor Carla who grieves that loss of her son, and the arrogant critic of art and Nicolai's friend Curtis Sunday. Along their vacation, the synergy of Nicoli and John improves their individual lives.