Drawing on her grandfather's memories of growing up in St. Louis, Yasmin Gorenberg explores the legacy of pain carried by children of immigrants and the power of hope to overcome it. "40 Nickels" portrays the experience of immigrants arriving in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s, highlighting the impact of the 1919 pogroms in Eastern Europe. The film examines the relationship between parents and children, illustrating how trauma endures within families and how hope and resilience are also transmitted. It asks whether a new generation can approach the world with wonder instead of fear.