In 1974, in the suburb of Port Chester, New York, the teenager aspiring 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.