Orange County

• Comedy
• Drama

Shaun Brumder’s California adolescence unfolds as a sharply funny and surprisingly poignant comedy of errors, charting his desperate attempt to escape a chaotic home life and pursue a writing education at Stanford. Unlike typical teen comedies focused on romance or popularity, this film centers on the frustrating realities of navigating bureaucratic incompetence and familial dysfunction – particularly after a guidance counselor’s mistake jeopardizes his college plans. The narrative leans into the awkwardness of first love blossoming amidst this upheaval, fueled by a road trip undertaken with an unexpectedly empathetic lawyer and a reluctant friend. It’s a refreshingly honest portrayal of youthful ambition clashing with the messy, often absurd, nature of everyday life, offering a bittersweet exploration of finding direction when everything seems determined to go awry, and what truly defines ‘getting away.’