Barry

Set in 1981, the story follows a young Barry as he arrives in New York to start at Columbia and wrestles with belonging in a city marked by ambition, activism, and inequality. He moves between campus debates, Harlem street life, and intimate moments in Central Park, all while confronting questions about race, class, and identity. The year anchors a period of social change and personal discovery that propels his growth.

The film unfolds primarily in New York City, with key settings including Columbia University, Harlem's neighborhoods, and Central Park. Barry stays in an off-campus apartment on 109th Street, interacting with neighbors and navigating the city’s social strata. The metropolis acts as a character itself, revealing both opportunity and racial/class tensions that shape his sense of self. Daily life in streets, clubs, and parks illustrates the urban canvas on which his identity is tested.

🧭 Identity

Barry’s struggle to fit into multiple worlds—college, Harlem neighborhoods, and white-dominated spaces—drives the narrative. His private memories, mixed heritage, and search for belonging push him to define who he is beyond labels. The city’s gaze and his evolving self-perception collide, shaping his choices and relationships. The theme culminates in moments where he reconciles inner conflict with outward belonging.

✊ Race and Society

The film foregrounds the realities of race in early-1980s New York, from housing segregation to racially charged encounters. Barry’s interracial relationship with Charlotte exposes social judgments and unequal treatment across communities. Encounters with neighbors, a punch at a Harlem party, and a security guard’s profiling reveal how race structures daily life. The narrative uses these moments to explore resilience and identity under pressure.

🏛️ Civic Duty

Debates in class and conversations with seasoned activists push Barry to consider politics as part of his identity. James and Grace Boggs offer guidance that being American means carrying a baton of hope across generations. Charlotte’s push to engage with public life deepens his sense of civic responsibility. The theme links personal growth to a broader sense of national belonging.

👪 Family and Memory

Barry’s connection to his mother Ann Dunham and the memory of his father frame his emotional journey. The death of his father during the timeline becomes a turning point that intensifies his search for meaning. Letters and conversations reveal private histories that inform his present self. The family ties provide grounding as he navigates a city trying to absorb him.