It isn’t easy saving lives, though our depictions of fire-fighters and paramedics on TV often makes it look at least a little glamorous. That’s what helps set apart Asphalt City, a new film that opens in theaters on Friday.

The film is based on the novel from Shannon Burke. The book, Black Files, was based on his time as an actual medic working in Harlem in the 1990s. It’s a raw, honest look at the job and the toll it takes on those who live through it.

The film follows Ollie Cross (Tye Sheridan), rookie paramedic who is using it as a steppingstone to a career in medicine. He hopes to be a doctor but is using this job for experience—and a paycheck—while he’s trying to get into Medical School. He’s quickly paired with a veteran paramedic, Gene Rutovsky (Sean Penn), who has his own way of doing things.

Out on the streets, Cross is thrown into the deep end. He learns from Rutovsky, but they also clash at times based on their view of the world. It’s clear the Cross is young while Rutovsky has been jaded by years on the job. But after the calls they see, it gets harder for Cross to leave it all behind and maintain a hopeful outlook on life.

The rest of the film has a strong supporting cast, including Michael Pitt, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Kali Reis, Katherine Waterston, Raquel Nave, and Mike Tyson in supporting roles. The cast does a nice job in their roles, helping to build the world and populate it. But this comes down to Sheridan and Penn.

Penn is a veteran actor who brings a quiet intensity to the role. It’s not an easy part, but through the course of the story we get to know Rutovsky and his struggles—both personal and professional. He brings a great deal of influence on Cross. Sheridan is the focus of the film, in nearly every scene. We see his evolution from the beginning through some rough patches and still manage to end in a somewhat hopeful place. Sheridan does a nice job carrying a difficult story as our entry into this world.

Director Jean-Stephane Sauvaire said he was drawn to Burke’s book and moved to bring the world to life. That shows in the craft here, including using non-actors in many of the medical call sequences to bring a note of authenticity.

All that is good, but this is at times something of a dim, and brutal watch. Some of that has to do with the basic story itself. This is meant to be a gritty look at a difficult world, and it does that. But it’s often not that much fun to watch. It’s well made but can be a bit much at times.

Asphalt City opens in theaters on Friday.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.