“The Greatest”: A Film Which Unveils Hidden Truths In 1960s New York
New York City in the early 1960s was a place of hidden truths. People lived behind masks, trying to fit into society’s narrow view of normal. Ryan Sarno’s film The Greatest peels back these layers, showing us a world where love often had to hide in plain sight.
Sometimes, the life we’re told to want isn’t the one that makes us happy
Jay seems to have it all on paper. He’s next in line for the family business. He has a nice house, a wife named Beverly, and a baby boy. But deep down, something’s missing. He feels like he’s playing a part in someone else’s story.
During a family trip, Jay meets Ricky, a waiter with a warm smile and kind eyes. They click instantly. Back in New York, their friendship grows into something more. They start visiting secret bars where they can be themselves without judgment.
True connection can happen when we least expect it.
One night, police raid one of these safe spaces. Suddenly, Jay’s carefully separated worlds collide. He faces criminal charges and a hard choice from Beverly: get “treatment” or end their marriage.
Now Jay must decide. Should he keep living a life that looks good from the outside? Or should he risk everything to be true to himself and find real happiness?
Sarno, the film’s director, says this story speaks to anyone who’s ever felt pressure to be someone they’re not. It shows a time when many people had to choose between fitting in and being honest about who they really were.
The Greatest premiered at Cinequest and is now heading to Out On Film, a film festival in Atlanta, Georgia. The festival runs from 26 September to 6 October. You can catch the film on 1 October.
You can watch the trailer for The Greatest below and see the passion and struggle for yourself.
