WestofEdenisinspiredbyatruestoryandsetinRuralNewZealandbetweenthesummerandwinterof1960.Billy’ssexualidentityisacomplicatedonefortheeraandherunsintoprejudiceinhishometownAuckland.Becauseofthesedifficultieshedecidestogosomewherewhereheisunknown;wherehecanre-inventhimself.Hedecidestotakeonajobatlargefarm.Whathediscoversonthefarmistheverythinghehastriedtoleavebehindbuttoanevengreaterextent.Thetensionandrepressionisheightenedfurtherbytheisolationof1960’sruralNewZealand.Hediscoversthatheisnottheonlyonefightinghisdesiresandhidinghisdemons.