Young, curious Rachel brings a video camera to The Wake, grieving the loss of her late godfather, Jack, and recording the event for her thesis film at NYU; searching ruthlessly for elusive answers ( "like, what women want, and what men want?") She joins Jack's pack of unruly, best friends for the weekend - bon vivant Ethan, wild card Spenser, and steady Dan - who each come to uncertain terms with the loss. From the suburbs of upstate N.Y. to Atlantic City, the runabout draws on memories of Jack, and illuminates the tragic, comic, tearful depths of heartbreak.