Paul is twelve years old and worships his father, Sonny, who is a brave fireman in their small town in America. One night a fire takes hold of a house and Sonny daringly saves Ian, a ruffian with a Nazi tattoo on his back, from the cellar before it collapses. Overnight, Sonny becomes a national hero, his rescue broadcast across the land, and Hollywood comes knocking at his door hoping to make a film of the dramatic events. But then Sonny starts drinking too much, smoking for the first time and hanging out with Ian, and it is obvious to his family that something is not right. As the true story of the night of the rescue comes out, Paul begins to realise that perhaps his father is not the hero he seems.