This unique coming age of dramedy from director Chad Hartigan tells the story of Morris, a 13 year old boy trying to find himself and his place in the world while living abroad with his soccer coach father in Germany. Check out our full review of this film after the jump.

Growing up is always a journey of discovery; one that can be made all the more difficult being a fish out of water in a foreign country. Chad Hartigan explores this journey from the eyes of a 13 year old African-American growing far far from home in Germany in his film Morris from America. Morris, played by charismatic newcomer Markees Christmas, dreams of being a rapper. His room is decorated with photos of pioneers like Tupac Shakur and he loves the rhymes of the Notorious B.I.G. But Morris is just a boy; living abroad in Heidelberg while his father (played in a serious turn by comic Craig Robinson) supports tham as a coach for the Heidelberg soccer club. Morris doesn’t have many friends; he spends his free time learning German with his tutor Inka (Carla Juri), who encourages him to join a local youth center to make friends. It is here he meets Katrin (Lina Keller), a 15 tear old “bad girl” on whom he develops his first crush.

Hartigan’s script is smart and modern; while Morris loves rap, none of the German kids even listen to it at all; they love electroswing and techno. Morris’ youth group leader holds himself out as someone relatable, but is the first to assume that a random marijuana roach found on the grounds must belong to Morris simply based on stereotype. Katrin and her friends are teens trying to grow up too fast; Morris just wants to be accepted and sells himself as a burgeoning rapper to try to make himself seem cool enough to belong. But its his need to belong that leads to his entering a talent show as something other than himself and he ends up being banned for his rap lyrics. All this while Morris’ father Curtis struggles to relate to his son as he starts acting out as a result of trying to find his place in the world.

In many ways, the film is similar to pieces like Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation; the unique setting of a boy away from everything in a foreign land leads to his latching onto Katrin who is in a very different place in her life. However, they both learn from each other lessons to move on in their lives. Craig Robinson’s character, Curtis, is also relatable. He is doing what is best for his son, even if it means they are somewhere they’d rather not be. The two are “the only brothers in Heidelberg;” the film largely works because we root for both characters and want them to reconcile their differences. Robinson and Christmas have great chemistry together and the film is at its best when they share screen time together.

Morris from America is another great release from distributor A24. It is one of the summer’s most down to earth films with solid acting and genuine story.