The Flamingo Kid

In 1963 Brooklyn, Jeffrey Willis, freshly graduated from high school, feels suffocated by his parents' expectations of college and his close-knit family. Seeking escape, he takes a summer job at the Flamingo beach club, where he is captivated by the glamorous lives of its patrons and the allure of Phil Brody, a successful car dealer who embodies everything Jeffrey aspires to be: popular, wealthy, and the best gin rummy player around. Jeffrey's journey of self-discovery includes a romance with the beautiful Carla Samson and the tempting prospect of a cushy job selling sports cars for Brody. However, his admiration for Brody shatters when he uncovers a significant flaw in his character, leading Jeffrey to realize he has been misled. Ultimately, he must choose between an easy but morally questionable path and his family's values, deciding to return to his family, whom he now sees not as a constraint but as a solid foundation for his future.