A Great Divide (2023) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A Korean American family relocates to Wyoming and faces questions of belonging, prejudice, and unresolved family pain.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A New Start in Wyoming

The Lee family moves from California to Wyoming, hoping the change will help Benjamin. Their host welcomes them, but school and community interactions soon make belonging uncertain.

Key Events

• The Lees Move to Wyoming — The family relocates, hoping the change will help Benjamin process his difficulties. Characters: Isaac Lee, Jenna Lee, Benjamin Lee Location: From California to Wyoming
• A New Start at Riverton High — Benjamin faces the prospect of starting at a new school. Characters: Benjamin Lee Location: Riverton High
• A Warm Welcome — Their host welcomes the family and offers support. Location: Wyoming
• Community Belonging Is Questioned — Conversations about tradition, race, and belonging expose a gap between welcome and experience. Characters: Isaac Lee, Jenna Lee, Benjamin Lee Location: School and town
• George Shows Hostility — Powerful landowner George McNather is openly hostile toward the Lee family. Characters: George McNather, Isaac Lee, Jenna Lee, Benjamin Lee Location: Wyoming community

Belonging Under Pressure

Conversations about race and tradition reveal a divide between claims of welcome and the family's experience. George McNather's hostility and residents' denial of prejudice sharpen the tension.

Key Events

• Prejudice Is Denied — Some residents insist prejudice is not a problem, despite the family's difficult experience. Characters: Isaac Lee, Jenna Lee, Benjamin Lee Location: Wyoming community
• Benjamin Works on His Application — Benjamin struggles with his school application and essay. Characters: Benjamin Lee Location: Unspecified
• Heritage Enters the Essay — Benjamin reflects on his Korean heritage and his grandmother's immigrant story. Characters: Benjamin Lee Location: Unspecified
• Isaac Tries to Keep Things Light — Isaac's jokes and corrections sometimes embarrass Benjamin. Characters: Isaac Lee, Benjamin Lee Location: Unspecified

Benjamin's Search for Place

Benjamin struggles with his school application and reflects on his Korean heritage and his grandmother's immigrant story. Isaac's attempts to keep things light sometimes embarrass him.

Key Events

• Benjamin and Ellie Spend Time Outdoors — Benjamin grows close to Ellie as they spend time together outdoors. Characters: Benjamin Lee, Ellie Licht Location: Outdoors
• Ellie Is Bitten by a Snake — Their outing takes a frightening turn when a snake bites Ellie. Characters: Benjamin Lee, Ellie Licht Location: Outdoors

Danger in the Outdoors

Benjamin and Ellie spend time outdoors, but Ellie is bitten by a snake. Benjamin seeks help, and Wyatt and Hunter assist in locating the snake for identification.

Key Events

• Benjamin Seeks Help — Benjamin seeks help after Ellie is bitten. Characters: Benjamin Lee Location: Outdoors
• Wyatt and Hunter Arrive — Wyatt arrives with Hunter and directs Benjamin to gather equipment. Characters: Wyatt Schlang, Hunter Drake, Benjamin Lee Location: Outdoors
• The Snake Is Located — Wyatt helps locate the snake so it can be identified for the hospital. Characters: Wyatt Schlang, Hunter Drake, Benjamin Lee Location: Outdoors
• The Outing Leaves Benjamin Shaken — Ellie is injured and Benjamin is shaken by the danger and his lack of control. Characters: Benjamin Lee, Ellie Licht Location: Outdoors

Sacrifice Brought to Light

Isaac tells Jenna about years of racial mockery at work and explains that he endured it while trying to provide for his family. The supplied dialogue ends before the family's tensions are resolved.

Key Events

• Isaac Reveals Workplace Mockery — Isaac explains years of racial mockery at work, including being called OJ for a cruel reason. Characters: Isaac Lee, Jenna Lee Location: Unspecified
• Isaac Explains His Sacrifice — Isaac says he endured the treatment while acting as a manager to provide for his family. Characters: Isaac Lee, Jenna Lee Location: Unspecified
• Family Pain Remains Unresolved — The supplied dialogue ends with the family's situation and tensions unresolved. Characters: Isaac Lee, Jenna Lee, Benjamin Lee Location: Wyoming

Story Breakdown

• The Wyoming Move — The family seeks a fresh start while Benjamin faces a new school and unfamiliar community.
  • Leaving California — Isaac, Jenna, and Benjamin move to Wyoming.
  • Riverton High — Benjamin faces starting at a new school.
• A Divided Welcome — The family's hopes for acceptance meet uneasy conversations and outright hostility.
  • Race and Tradition — Community conversations expose different experiences of belonging.
  • George's Hostility — George McNather is openly hostile toward the Lee family.
• Benjamin's Identity — Benjamin's schoolwork becomes a chance to reflect on heritage and personal history.
  • Application Struggles — Benjamin struggles with his school application and essay.
  • Korean Heritage — His essay reflects on his Korean heritage and his grandmother's immigrant story.
• Father and Son Tension — Isaac tries to ease the adjustment, while his manner sometimes embarrasses Benjamin.
  • Isaac's Jokes — Isaac tries to keep things light.
  • Benjamin's Embarrassment — Isaac's jokes and corrections sometimes embarrass his son.
• The Snake Emergency — An outdoor outing turns dangerous, bringing Benjamin into an urgent search for help.
  • Ellie's Injury — A snake bites Ellie during the outing.
  • Help and Identification — Wyatt and Hunter assist as the snake is located for identification.
• Isaac's Hidden Burden — Isaac reveals the racial mockery he endured and the sacrifice he believes he made for his family.
  • Workplace Mockery — Isaac describes years of racial mockery, including being called OJ.
  • A Family Left Waiting — Isaac asks for his sacrifice to be understood, but the supplied dialogue ends before resolution.

Directed by

Jean Shim

Key Cast

• Ken Jeong — Isaac Lee
• Jae Suh Park — Jenna Lee
• Emerson Min — Benjamin Lee
• Miyako — Ellie Licht
• MeeWha Alana Lee — Grandma Shim