The film begins with a heartbreaking scene of an 11-year-old girl and her mother waiting for the subway. Their lives are shattered when two men violently steal the mother’s purse, and amidst the chaos, one of the assailants shoots the mother as the train departs. The young girl’s screams pierce the tension, and we meet Sgt. Neil Craig, portrayed by Chris Cooper, who rushes to comfort her, revealing that he is her estranged father.
Next, we’re introduced to Tyler, played by Robert Pattinson, who is depicted in a disheveled apartment, smoking and drinking away his troubles. A phone call interrupts his solitude, prompting him to throw on a suit and head to a graveyard where he, along with his father, mother, and sister, pay their respects to his deceased brother, Michael Hawkins. This visit reveals the family's unresolved grief and strained dynamics, especially when Tyler’s father dismissively interrupts his sister Caroline, played by Ruby Jerins, during a conversation about her art. Tyler’s anger boils over when he storms out of a coffee shop, an action that underscores his internal unrest.
As the story unfolds, Tyler and his roommate Aidan, portrayed by Tate Ellington, engage in reckless nightlife and a questionable scheme involving women. During a drunken brawl, Tyler fiercely confronts a man and accidentally injures one of his new companions, leading to an encounter with the police and a jail sentence. Despite the chaos in his life, Tyler’s path crosses with Ally, the young daughter of the policeman, portrayed by Emilie de Ravin. Their relationship begins under strained circumstances, as Tyler recognizes Ally’s pain and vulnerability.
Their first date is marked by a blend of awkwardness and desperation, but ultimately leads to a deeper connection. Tyler’s affectionate nature shines through as he takes Ally to a fair, seeking to understand her fears and antics—she whimsically orders dessert first out of her anxiety concerning mortality.
As romance blossoms, we witness intimate moments including a water fight that escalates to a passionate shower scene. But not long after, complications arise. Ally’s father is portrayed as overprotective and haunted by his past, leading to a violent confrontation when he learns about his daughter's relationship with Tyler. Tyre’s world begins to unravel as his unresolved family issues surface during a birthday gathering, where tensions culminate in a disastrous confrontation with his father, revealing the scars that come from family expectations and past traumas.
In a poignant montage, Tyler and Ally experience joyful moments that highlight their love, interspersed with darker realities as they navigate their respective family issues. The narrative shifts dramatically with the backdrop of September 11, 2001, as Tyler finds himself trapped in the World Trade Center during the attacks, leaving his loved ones shattered and in grief.
The film concludes with a haunting sense of loss: Tyler’s family, Ally, and Aidan are left to cope with his absence, reflecting on love, tragedy, and the intricate tapestry of life. In the very end, Ally stands at the subway platform where her mother was murdered, prepared to face her fears and step forward—a symbol of resilience as the credits roll.
