Mourning the loss of his father (Tom Hanks) one year after he died in the 9/11 attacks, young, intelligent New Yorker Oskar (Thomas Horn) discovers a key in their house that he believes may literally unlock a secret about his dad's life. Hiding the quest from his mother (Sandra Bullock), Oskar seeks out a variety of people in the city, including a mysterious old man (Max von Sydow) who does not speak, but may have something to teach. Based on the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer.