U.S.A, these days: well-funded, organized groups, backed by right-wing lawmakers, have created blacklists of hundreds of books they label “obscene.” This is happening mostly in conservative states: in Texas, for example, the banned list includes roughly 850 titles. The censored works cover gender identity, sexuality, African-American history, and more. Even science books with educational nude illustrations are labeled pornographic and removed.

Standing up to them are a group of unlikely heroes — and the central figures of this film: older, friendly librarians who find themselves on the front lines of the fight against censorship in public libraries and schools. They face intense pressure and threats, with some even losing their jobs, but they refuse to back down in. The film captures the clashes between opportunistic politicians, conservative community members, and these determined librarians, painting a disturbing portrait of contemporary America.