The teen years can be rough. It’s a time when you’re asking questions and trying to find your place in the world. It’s even tougher if you don’t feel love and support as you’re trying to find yourself.

That’s the theme of the new film, I Wish You All the Best, which opens in limited release on Friday, November 7. The film comes from writer/director Tommy Dorfman, who can identify with this journey. It’s based on the novel by Mason Deaver and focuses on Ben (Corey Fogelmanis), who is in the midst of struggle.

At the outset Ben, a high school aged teen, has come to a decision. Ben announces to their parents that they’re nonbinary. It isn’t a message that’s well received. Instead, Ben’s parents kick them out of the house as their lifestyle doesn’t conform to their parent’s worldview. Ben finds themself alone and seeking a place to belong.

So, Ben turns to their sister, Hannah (Alexandra Daddario). Hannah, now married to Thomas (Cole Sprouse) with a newborn, has her own checkered history with her parents. She, too, was kicked out once upon a time, working hard to build a new life. Though she hasn’t seen Ben in years, she and Thomas welcome them.

Hannah and Thomas provide a home and structure for Ben as they work to support them on their journey. But it isn’t easy, especially as Ben grapples with who they are and what they want for their life. That pressure doesn’t get any easier when Ben and Hannah’s parents turn up seeking to bring Ben home.

This is a personal story for Dorfman, who went through many of the same issues on her journey. You can feel how personal the story is while watching this film come to life. There aren’t easy answers, nor is there a complete resolution. That feels fitting for this story and where Ben is on the journey.

The performances here are solid. Fogelmanis does a nice job bringing Ben to life through all the difficult questions raised by the journey. That’s particularly true in the back-and-forth with Ben’s parents. That’s true of Daddario, who has some emotional sequences and some touching sequences playing off Fogelmanis.

This will be a tough film for some due to the subject matter. Not everyone will be drawn to the story, while it may bring up painful memories of similar experiences for others. The film tries to handle this difficult subject with care and celebrate some of journey for Ben.

But it feels a bit thin at times. I wanted a little more out of the brother-sister relationship. I wanted a little more about Ben’s journey—which mostly feels confined to art class with a teacher (Lena Dunham) who is supporting and, at times, probing. The arc of the narrative feels right to the character, but it doesn’t always feel satisfying as a viewer.

I Wish You All the Best takes a big swing at a timely topic. It doesn’t always nail it, but it’s an interesting exploration of this journey. It 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.