Safelight

At the truck stop, Vicki is rough handled by her pimp Skid. Charles, a bullied teen with a camera hobby, steps out with a bat and tells Skid to back off. Skid drives away, underestimating Charles because of his disability.

A photography contest is announced at Charles's school, sparking his interest. He initially thinks about photographing California lighthouses but worries about his abilities. The idea grows into a plan to enter Beacon of Light.

Charles's father Eric is dying, weighing heavily on him at home. Peg, who works at the truck stop, is supportive and encouraging toward his art. Charles finds some solace in photography despite the looming loss.

Vicki offers to drive Charles to the lighthouses so he can shoot for the contest. They begin a road trip, with Charles planning shots and Vicki managing the pace. The trip marks a shift from distant acquaintances to tentative partnership.

At the first lighthouse, Charles shares that his mother abandoned him and that the camera belonged to his late brother Kevin. Vicki reveals that her father is dead and her mother kicked her out. Their confessions reveal shared wounds behind their façades.

At the second lighthouse, Vicki explains more about her rough upbringing while Peg invites them to go dancing. They go out, and the night ends with a slow dance and a kiss between Charles and Vicki. The moment deepens their bond even as uncertainty remains.

Before going to the third lighthouse, Charles persuades Vicki to visit her family. They confront mixed reactions from her sisters, highlighting the fragility of her past. The visit strains their new closeness and foreshadows trouble ahead.

Days pass and Vicki stops talking to Charles. He hands in his photo collection for the contest, naming it Beacon of Light. The quiet distance underscores the consequences of their fraught relationship.

On his way home from school, Charles is pushed down by neighborhood bullies and his camera is broken. The loss compounds the emotional weight he already carries from his father's illness and his difficult life. The incident threatens to derail his artistic dreams.

Charles's father dies, and Charles and Peg mourn and manage the aftermath. The father’s death intensifies Charles’s sense of isolation, but Peg remains a steady source of support. The moment cements the resilience that drives him forward.

Skid tracks down Vicki at her motel and demands money, showing his volatile control. He throws cash in her face and punches her in front of Charles later arriving to intervene. Charles demands Skid stop hurting Vicki, escalating the dangerous dynamic.

Skid and Charles clash, but Vicki shoots Skid in self-defense. Vicki says goodbye to Charles and drives off, while Charles records the moment with a final photo of her leaving the truck stop. The film ends on a bittersweet note about escape, resilience, and the power of art.