A serious and put-upon Jewish physics lecturer, Larry Gopnik, navigates a chaotic life in 1967 Bloomington, Minnesota. His family's antics, including his daughter's theft to fund a nose job and his son's constant requests for TV repairs, take a toll on his sanity. As his marriage crumbles and his brother becomes an unwelcome houseguest, Larry is tempted to accept a bribe from a student and seeks guidance from rabbis, only to receive platitudes.

A Serious Man
A physics teacher's life is disrupted by a series of unpredictable events, prompting him to reexamine his sense of direction and find solace in the midst of chaos.