The Parts You Lose (2019): A Silent Bond in a Dangerous World

A boy who couldn’t speak. A man who couldn’t run. Together, they found meaning.

The Parts You Lose (2019) is a quiet, emotionally charged thriller that explores unlikely friendship, childhood trauma, and the gray space between right and wrong. Set against the cold, desolate backdrop of rural North Dakota, this indie drama combines coming-of-age elements with a fugitive-on-the-run narrative, delivering a heartfelt yet suspenseful experience.

At the heart of the story is Wesley, a young deaf boy struggling to find his place in a world that often overlooks him. Played with gentle depth by newcomer Danny Murphy, Wesley lives with his well-meaning but distant parents, and often feels isolated—especially due to his inability to communicate easily with others.

Everything changes when Wesley discovers an injured man (played by Aaron Paul) hiding in the barn near his family’s property. Instead of turning him in, Wesley nurses the man back to health, forming a secret and powerful connection that transcends language. But the man is a fugitive, and his presence brings danger ever closer to the boy and his family.

As the authorities close in, Wesley is forced to make difficult choices about loyalty, morality, and what it means to do the right thing—even when the lines are blurred. The film avoids flashy spectacle in favor of intimate storytelling, using silence, gesture, and expression to build tension and emotional weight. It’s a subtle, slow-burning story about the parts of ourselves we hide—and the parts we lose when innocence meets reality.