At first glance, The Outside Story feels like a break-up movie. Charles (played by empathetic Brian Tyree Henry) works as an editor, cutting together in memoriam videos for people who aren’t dead yet. He is feeling sad not just because of the job, but because the love of his life is about to move out. But Charles maybe just needed a good, swift kick in the butt to realize there are versions of love all around him. That kick in the butt comes when he locks himself out of his apartment. 

Writer-director Casimir Nozkowski says his own life was a pretty big influence on the film.

“I’ve been locked out a lot of times — and I know that’s a sad statement — and while I’ve found it inconvenient, there’s usually a period I end up waiting for someone to come help me; friends, strangers, my landlord, where being locked out is a great disruption to routine. You pause your life and look around. Using that as a way for a character who didn’t wanna be outside or interact with anyone, and introducing them to all the things they have been avoiding or missing ... it checked all these wonderful boxes,” he said.

For Charles, being locked out starts to awaken his senses in all kinds of different ways, particularly through getting to know his amazing neighbors — a little girl struggling with her relationship with her mother, an elderly woman missing her husband, a ticket-happy cop who is not as she seems at first glance, a sexually open man who’s willing to open his door (or window) when Charles needs it the most. Everyone has a rich story, and Nozkowski is excellent at mining each one.

“I feel like it’s sort of human nature to not be awestruck ... if you are on your way to work, you don’t have time to contemplate existence or the people around you ... it’s really hard to turn off routines and ruts, and a singular focus on being productive. It’s easy to take for granted the people around you,” he said. 

What’s lovely about the film is that Charles is forced to truly get to know pretty much everyone around him, and Nozkowski knows just how valuable those relationships can be.

“We have so much in common with the people right around us, and it behooves us to reach out and look around and bump into the people around us more,” Nozkowski said.

“I always feel better when I see people going through what I am going through ... we have to go beyond the human nature of tuning out the things around us.” 

While Charles struggles to forgive his girlfriend, Isha (played by scene-stealing Sonequa Martin-Green), his own internal relationship battles fade away as he becomes engrossed in helping his neighbors just as much as they are helping him. About 75 percent of the movie’s action goes down on a front stoop, making it feel most excellently New York. Nozkowski, who is clearly on his way to being an indie darling, referred to a classic contained film as inspiration.

“The number one movie as an inspiration for this one is After Hours. I love that film,” he said.

"I was also inspired by all the people that live on my block, and blocks that I’ve lived on where I slowly learned so much about those around me.” 

Charles forms such a strong connection with all his new acquaintances, neighbors and friends, that one yearns for the relationships to continue, even as the film comes to an end.

“I wanna believe Charles is gonna stay friends with his neighbors,” mused Nozkowski.

“Maybe some of those relationships will fade as life gets in the way, but I’d like to think his relationship with Elena, the little girl, will last. He’ll check up on her.”

Elena, played by Olivia Edward, is a striking story and also a reminder that we rarely know what our next-door neighbor is going through, and lending some time can make a huge difference.

While Charles’ own love story takes a backseat as he gets to know those who surround him, the film becomes more of a love story to New York itself, and to those who have the chutzpah to inhabit it.

“I think New York is basically a couple things,” said lifelong New Yorker Nozkowski.

“People are exhibiting kindness for each other — that is way more my experience of the city; people trying to connect way more than trying to hurt or avoid each other. That connection is out there, but at the same time the film is not just for New Yorkers. It’s about the need and ability to perform kindness for each other and be kind. If it’s there to be found on a city block in New York then the whole world has it, too. But also, yeah, New York is rad. I love New York.”

One can feel just how much Nozkowski loves both the city and his characters while watching the film. The Outside Story exudes sweetness without being saccharine. It’s an antidote in a time of coming out of loneliness; a reminder that just spending time can change a crappy day into a most excellent one.  

The Outside Story is now on demand everywhere you can buy, rent and stream movies.