Gook

Eli is a Korean American co-owner of the family shoe store, trying to keep the business afloat in a predominantly African-American community. He navigates racism from multiple sides and protects Kamilla, balancing pragmatism with care. His decisions throughout the day test his loyalty to family, community, and moral responsibility.

Daniel dreams of becoming a recording artist and often chases that escape more than serving customers. His impulsive nature pushes him toward risk, collaboration, and the urge to break free from the store’s constraints. The day’s chaos forces him to confront consequences and the value of loyalty.

Kamilla is an 11-year-old African American girl with a troubled home life after her mother’s death. She forms a fragile, transformative bond with Eli and Daniel, and she becomes a catalyst for how the adults around her respond to danger. Her struggle and ultimate fate underscore the human cost of the day’s upheaval.

Mr. Kim runs a nearby liquor store and shares a long, complicated history with Eli and Daniel’s family. He challenges and consoles the brothers, revealing a past that connects their lives. His perspective adds depth to the cross-cultural dynamics and the day’s moral ambiguities.

Keith is Kamilla’s brother, a volatile teen who blames the Korean shop owners for his family’s troubles. He drives the plan to rob the store and becomes a focal point of the day’s violence. His actions reveal the pull of anger, loyalty to peers, and the destructive outcomes of unchecked rage.

Jesús is a Hispanic neighbor who helps around the store, provides a gas can, and shares crucial information about the sneakers’ whereabouts. He embodies a row of neighborly support and complicates the day’s dynamics with practical aid and quiet insight.