Set in California against the backdrop of the mid-sixties, That’s What I Am is a coming-of-age story that follows 12-year-old Andy Nichol (Chase Ellison), a bright student who, like most kids his age, will do anything to avoid conflict for fear of suffering overwhelming ridicule and punishment from his junior high school peers.
Everyone’s favorite teacher, Mr. Simon (Ed Harris), pairs Andy with the school’s biggest outcast and social pariah, Stanley aka “Big G” (Alexander Walters), on a critical school project. Sporting thick orange hair, a head too big for his body and ears too big for his head, “Big G” has been the object of ridicule since grade school. Before long, Andy will learn that there was truly a method behind Mr. Simon’s madness as to why he teamed these two up.
After a dramatic incident in the schoolyard, teachers and parents rethink their roles in school and society. Principal Kelner (Amy Madigan) suspends a school bully for brutally beating up a female classmate. The vindictive father of the bully makes Mr. Simon the target of a malicious rumor about his sexuality, causing Mr. Simon to question his calling as an educator and mentor to his students.
When Andy watches “Big G” fearlessly confront the school bully about the incident, a series of events are triggered. Much to Andy’s surprise, he learns that “Big G” is a brilliant, kind, tolerant human being, who as more dignity than anyone Andy has ever encountered.
Big G personifies Mr. Simon’s four word answer on how to obtain world peace:
HUMAN DIGNITY + COMPASSION = PEACE.
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