In 1974, in the suburb of Port Chester, New York, the teenage aspirant artist John Talia has a troubled relationship with his homophobic father who does not understand John's talent. While visiting his friend Yammi, John finds that the genius Russian painter Nicoli Seroff lives nearby. He decides to pay a visit to his idol. John finds a bitter alcoholic who is still grieving the loss of his wife Anya. Somehow, 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. John meets Nicoli's neighbor Carla who grieves the 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.