Tomorrow, the World!

Emil Bruckner, a young German orphan, comes to live with his liberal American uncle, Mike Frame. He carries with him the heavy indoctrination of the Hitler Youth and memories of his father Karl Bruckner, who died after opposing the Nazi regime. The uncle hopes to provide a welcoming home while facing Emil's allegiance to the Reich.

Despite a kind welcome, Emil quickly doubles down on Nazi beliefs, donning an armband and parroting Hitler Youth slogans. He denounces his late father as a traitor and treats his new environment through a Reich-centric lens. The household begins to realize how deeply the propaganda has taken hold.

Emil refuses to connect with his new family and treats everyone as potential enemies or comrades in a cause. He tries to recruit the Frames' German maid to his Nazi agenda, signaling his insistence on loyalty to the regime. His behavior isolates him from the others.

At school, Emil mocks a Polish boy and pushes him into the mud, then sabotages the laundry line so clean clothes fall into the dirt. He also terrifies a shy girl by implying her father is a prisoner of war in Germany. He tries to dictate events, not merely observe them.

During the confrontation at school, Emil tries to be the first to tell his version of events, accusing others of lying. The disagreement escalates until he runs away from the school. Later, he scrawls antisemitic graffiti against his teacher, Miss Richards, on the sidewalk.

Emil provokes Miss Richards into slapping him by calling her a Jewish tramp. He then tries to manipulate his Aunt Jessie, jealous of her engagement to his uncle, into joining his plan to undermine Miss Richards. The confrontation exposes the family’s tensions and Emil’s manipulative tactics.

Just before Emil's birthday party, his cousin Pat catches him trying to break into a desk to find sensitive papers. The discovery shows Emil's intent to uncover potentially damaging information and to disrupt the family further. The moment heightens the risk to everyone around him.

Following the desk incident, Emil attacks Pat with a fire iron, leaving her badly injured. He flees the house, and his schoolmates eventually apprehend him and bring him home to face the police. This marks a turning point in the family's ability to respond to his danger.

Alone with Emil after the chaos, Leona forces him to confront his feelings and to see the consequences of his actions. She prevents Mike from killing him, choosing to offer a different path through understanding rather than punishment. This intervention introduces a possibility for redemption.

During a private moment before the party, Leona has Emil open one of his birthday presents while Pat's thoughtful gift is nearby. The gesture of Pat's kindness triggers Emil's first real experience of remorse and guilt. He begins to reassess his beliefs in light of his cousin's love.

As he grapples with his father's memory and the way he was treated by the Nazis, Emil experiences a turning point where hope for redemption begins to appear. He starts to acknowledge the harm his words and actions have caused. The shift is gradual and deeply personal.

Ultimately, Leona encourages compassion and Mike offers support rather than exile. Emil remains with his new family, signaling a possible path away from indoctrination toward belonging and reform. The film closes on a note of cautious optimism for Emil's future.