It's 1949 and life is bleak for Henry. He misses his father who died a war hero, and he escapes from his annoying stepfather and stepsister whenever he can by going to the movies. One day he meets Mr. Beaumont, a man who also loves films and agrees to lend Henry a camera for his school project. Henry is disgusted to learn that he's been put in a group with Jeffries, the son of a man who went AWOL, and Pip, who was born illegitimate. Henry begins to learn that tolerance and friendship are more important than social stigmas when he processes the film and makes an alarming discovery. Like a bomb waiting to explode, Henry's world is about to unravel, and he will need his new friends to keep disaster in check.