Little Men

After his elderly father dies, Brian Jardine moves his family into the two-story Brooklyn building they inherited. They discover a ground-floor dress shop run by Leonor Calvelli, with her 13-year-old son Tony becoming their new neighbor. Jake and Tony quickly cross paths, setting the stage for a budding friendship.

Jake is quiet and artistic, while Tony is outgoing and talkative, yet the two boys form a bond. They begin spending time together around the building and in the neighborhood, discovering common ground in creativity and adolescence. Their friendship grows despite their contrasting personalities.

Jake pursues painting with a quiet intensity, while Tony pursues performing arts and attends Acting Out! school. Tony dreams of LaGuardia High School for the arts, and Jake hopes to follow a similar path through painting at LaGuardia. The two friends encourage each other toward their separate ambitions.

They bond through skating around the borough and attending a teen rave, sharing small joys and frustrations. When disagreements arise, they alternate between warmth and the silent treatment, underscoring their evolving closeness. The dynamic shows how friendship can grow from difference.

Tony defends Jake when classmates insult his sexuality, turning a tense moment into a display of loyalty. The confrontation reinforces the depth of their friendship and foreshadows larger tensions to come. The incident deepens Jake's trust in Tony.

The Jardines learn that Leonor's rent had been kept unusually low by Brian's father, which adds a layer of guilt and responsibility to Brian's decision. Leonor makes emotional appeals about their friendship and the kind of neighbor her family relied on. The landlord-tenant dynamic grows tense as market pressures creep in.

Under pressure from his sister Audrey's ultimatum, Brian informs Leonor that her rent will be tripled and that she and Tony must move. Leonor pleads emotionally, arguing that her family relied on the friendship with Brian's father. Brian remains firm, and the eviction proceeds.

Devastated, Jake tearfully pleads Tony's case, hoping to save their friendship and Tony's place in the neighborhood. He faces the reality that life is changing around them, and Brian urges him to focus on his own art and LaGuardia application. The eviction drives Jake to redirect his energy back toward his painting.

Brian tells Jake to return to painting and to push forward with his LaGuardia application, signaling a shift in family priorities toward supporting Jake's dream. The family tries to keep some normalcy despite the upheaval in the building and neighborhood. Jake takes the encouragement to heart and recommits to his artistic path.

Some time later, Jake joins fellow art students on a museum visit and is surprised to see Tony and his classmates on a tour. He watches Tony from across a large atrium, feeling the distance that has grown between them. The moment marks a pivotal shift as their paths diverge within the same city.

Tony walks away in the atrium and Jake quietly rejoins his own group to continue sketching. The encounter crystallizes the separation of their lives, yet Jake seeks solace and purpose in his art. He resolves to keep creating despite the changing circumstances.

Despite the eviction and distance between the boys, Jake remains determined to pursue his art and apply to LaGuardia, continuing to sketch and paint as he moves forward. The neighborhood's changes linger, but Jake's artistic ambition remains a beacon for his future. The story closes with Jake stepping into the city with renewed purpose.