 The movie is based on Tim McLoughlin s novel "Heart of the Old Country", which see s Mike Manadoro (Kevin Zegers), a 19 year old Brooklyn boy who is torn between two worlds. When Mike s photography portfolio wins him a partial scholarship to NYU, he must figure out how to balance his tight knit Italian neighborhood roots in Bay Ridge with the opportunity to emerge into the expansive, sophisticated world on the other side of the East River. His job at a local car service doesn t earn him enough to make up for the rest of tuition. His father, a retired sanitation worker on disability, refuses to support Mike s attempts for financial aid out of pride. Mike ultimately takes a job making deliveries for Tony, the local mob boss, to make up the gap. Mike not only has to balance work with his academic assignments, he has to manage his personal relationships as well. This includes his attraction to a beautiful, cool, intellectual young woman, Kathy Popovich (Sophia Bush) he meets at NYU with his responsibility to his long term, girlfriend Gina (Monica Keena) from the neighborhood he s promised to marry. The stakes grow higher as he faces consequential choices in turning his back on all he knows and pursuing a new life. This compelling coming-of-age story combines suspense, murder and loyalty.