For Malik and Eric—two best friends who are more like brothers living in the Cabrini-Green housing projects of Chicago— childhood brims with unbound possibilities that extend beyond their housing complex. They see their environment through the lens of a youthful, optimistic imagination. The year is 1992 and the two boys are blissfully carefree and bursting with potential. Whether excelling at jumping competitions in the playground, dishing out hilariously juvenile jokes, or escaping the doldrums of school, the pair explore their world without caution or hesitation. At home, Malik's mother, Dolores (Jurnee Smollett), strives to provide a loving foundation for her kids to flourish and where outside barriers don't hinder their dreams. But when a tragic loss rocks their community, the boys' friendship is tested despite their families' efforts to prepare them for the world they are growing up into - they know their lives matter, their aspirations are valid, and that home will always be with the ones they love.