West of Sunshine

Jimmy, a courier with serious troubles, is heavily in debt, owing A$15,000 to Banos, the menacing owner of a car repair shop. Faced with an ultimatum, he has until 5 o'clock that day to repay or suffer severe consequences.

In a hurry to fulfill his obligations, Jimmy picks up his mate Steve, another courier. His day becomes increasingly complicated when he must also pick up his pre-teen son Alex, whose strained relationship with him complicates matters further.

As they drive around in Jimmy's cherished 1968 Ford Fairlane, tension mounts between him and Alex. The young boy openly challenges his father's authority, revealing the difficulties in their father-son dynamic amidst an already stressful day.

Due to his delays, they arrive late at the depot, compelling Jimmy to use the Fairlane for deliveries instead of the company's vehicle. This means Alex must accompany him on the deliveries, leading to an adventurous yet chaotic experience through various businesses in Melbourne.

After completing his deliveries, Jimmy and Alex stop for lunch at a suburban hotel that features TAB betting. They meet Steve there, and in a moment of desperation, Jimmy borrows a significant amount of money from him to place a bet on a horse.

To Jimmy's astonishment, his bet on the horse wins, temporarily lifting his spirits and bringing him a sense of hope. He calls Banos excitedly to share the good news but quickly becomes tempted to gamble again, a decision that leads to disastrous consequences.

In a moment of rashness driven by adrenaline, Jimmy places another bet with his winnings, only to experience a devastating loss. This results in further despair, compelling him to seek help from Steve, who has his own financial troubles.

With his financial situation deteriorating, Jimmy contemplates selling his beloved Fairlane, worth A$35,000, to settle his debts. However, after momentarily reflecting on the emotional significance of the car, he ultimately decides against the sale and drives away with Alex.

Meanwhile, Steve reconnects with Mel, an old friend who runs a bakery. Together, they devise a plan involving delivering suspicious packages, which Steve tells Alex contain vitamin C, adding a layer of secrecy to their actions.

Tension escalates when Alex accidentally opens one of the suspicious packages at a crucial moment, almost ingesting its questionable contents. Jimmy arrives just in time to intervene, sparking a heartfelt dialogue between him and Alex that facilitates their reconnection.

In a climactic showdown, Jimmy approaches Banos armed only with a few hundred dollars to repay his debt. As Banos's men viciously beat him, it seems all is lost, but unexpectedly, Banos intervenes and stops the assault.

In a moment of surrender, Jimmy is forced to give up the Fairlane to Banos. He then bicycles back to Karen's house, with Alex joyously riding on the handlebars, symbolizing a bittersweet end to a chaotic day.

As night falls, Karen inquires about how Alex's day went. In a surprising twist, Alex exuberantly declares, 'It was the best day ever,' showcasing the newfound connection between him and his father despite the day's chaos.