In 1984 on the east coast of New Zealand, an imaginative and Maori boy named Boy idolizes his absent father, Alamein, and the legendary feats he believes his father has accomplished. Living with his younger brother Rocky and his grandmother, Boy creates an idealistic image of Alamein to cope with the pain of abandonment. His days are filled with adventures, mischief with friends, and fantasies of reconnecting with his father. However, their lives take an unexpected turn when Alamein unexpectedly returns home after a stint in jail. Boy initially views this as the moment all his dreams come true, believing Alamein's return will bring excitement and change their lives for the better.

Alamein's homecoming, however, turns out to be less about family and more about finding a bag of money supposedly buried in the backyard. As Boy begins to spend more time with his father, he slowly realizes the man he has idolized is flawed and self-centered. Despite this, Boy desperately tries to reconcile the reality of who Alamein is with the hero he envisioned. While also dealing with the everyday challenges of growing up and taking care of Rocky, Boy faces the harsh truth about his father and what it means for his future. Throughout this period of revelation, Boy learns critical lessons about himself, family, and the importance of facing reality with resilience.