Sag Harbor

In the sun-drenched summer of 1985, 15-year-old Benji Cooper escapes the rigid social hierarchies of his elite Manhattan prep school for the familiar yet equally perplexing world of Sag Harbor, Long Island. Here, amidst an exclusive African-American community, Benji navigates the unique culture, traditions, and unspoken rules that define his summers. As one of the few Black kids in his school during the academic year, Benji arrives in Sag Harbor only to find himself perpetually out of sync—behind on the latest slang, baffled by new handshakes, and burdened by an awkward inner geek, braces, and a regrettable Afro. He’s determined to shed his uncool image and reinvent himself as the suave 'Ben,' hoping to finally fit in and, crucially, attract girls. However, his earnest attempts are constantly thwarted by the mortifying realities of teenage existence. Whitehead masterfully captures the universal angst of adolescence through a specific cultural lens, blending humor and poignant introspection as Benji grapples with identity, belonging, and the bewildering journey of becoming.