Faithful in style and spirit to the award-winning novel of the same name by Brian Morton, this wise, observant, and exquisitely tacit chamber piece counteracts every academic-novel cliché in the book. Against the backdrop of Manhattan's changing literary and publishing world, aging novelist Leonard Schiller is asked by Heather Wolfe, a graduate student and budding literary critic, to agree to interviews. Throughout their encounters, the core theme of Schiller’s novels is unveiled – life is not designed for our comfort but for our struggle, for in struggle there is growth.

Official selection for many international film festivals, this film was also selected as Winner of the National Board of Review Top Ten Independent Films 2007.