The new drama Tow opens with a statistic—between 1 and 3 million people at any given time live in their vehicle. Homelessness, in its various forms, is a big struggle for many across the United States. These are stories of people fighting to carve out a daily existence despite big obstacles.

The film is based on a true story. It follows the journey of one woman who refused to give up and refused to be abused by the system. It’s a powerful story, and a powerful look at the journey of her and others like her.

In the film, Amanda (Rose Byrne) is a recovering alcoholic who lost custody of her daughter (Elsie Fisher) and is trying to get her life together. She’s gotten her Vet Tech certificate, and she’s seeking work in Seattle. While she does that, she’s living in the only thing she owns—a 1991 Toyota Corolla.

After a successful interview where she lands a job thanks in part to having a vehicle, she returns to discover her vehicle has been stolen. Amanda files a police report and is forced to sleep on the street. A day later, her vehicle is found. But when she goes to the yard where it was towed, she finds that she’d have to pay $273 just to get it back.

Amanda doesn’t have the money. So, she files a suit against the tow yard to get her property back. After waiting more than a week, she succeeds in court. But when she returns with a court order, her car has already been sold at auction.

Amanda, out of a job and running out of options, struggles to find a way to get back what is hers. She finds a shelter to call home and a lawyer (Dominic Sessa) who is willing to help her fight. She struggles for more than a year to earn a day in court and make it right.

Amanda’s story is tough. Her journey was tough. But, in the end, it’s inspirational. This film even concludes with a look at the real Amanda, her daughter, and the lawyer that helped her fight this fight. But it still doesn’t feel like justice. There is no magical ending here, just a woman who persevered and fought like hell for a small piece of dignity—the return of the vehicle that never should have been taken.

Stories like this are more common than we’d like to admit. We’ve seen similar stories of struggle in the past, but the way this is put together by director Stephanie Laing is compelling. And it works in large part thanks to the strong lead performance from Byrne. She sinks into the role and gives it her all. It’s not an easy journey, but she makes it compelling.

The film also has a strong supporting cast. In addition to Sessa, Octavia Spencer, Ariana DeBose, Demi Lovato, and Simon Rex all play supporting roles. All do a nice job in helping to build out this world and shine a light on the struggles of people like Amanda, who find a way to persist despite the odds going against them.

This is a solid drama and an inspirational story in its own way. It’s worth seeking out for those who are looking for a little inspiration at the theater. Tow opens in limited release nationwide on Friday, March 20.

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.