In the quiet, contemplative drama Mike Mills crafts a poignant portrait of unexpected connection and the echoes of childhood. Joaquin Phoenix stars as Johnny, a thoughtful radio journalist immersed in recording the dreams and fears of children across the country. His own life, however, is marked by a quiet solitude. When his sister, Viv, played by Gaby Hoffman, must travel to care for her estranged husband, Johnny reluctantly agrees to watch her precocious and sensitive nine-year-old son, Jesse (Woody Norman). What begins as a temporary, awkward arrangement evolves into a transformative cross-country journey, as Johnny brings Jesse along on his work trip. Through the lens of Johnny’s interviews and the unvarnished curiosity of a child, the two navigate the complexities of family, memory, and communication, forging a fragile, profound bond that challenges Johnny’s understanding of his own past and future. Shot in intimate black and white, the film is a gentle, emotionally resonant exploration of the conversations that shape us.