[2] When 21-year-old Brody Jr. (heir to the Jelke oleomargarine company) announced his intention to give away his inheritance to anyone in need, he ignited a spiral of events that captured the media's attention.

[3][4] Brody, along with his newlywed wife Renee, became instant worldwide celebrities who were then mobbed by the American public, scrutinized by the press, and overwhelmed by an avalanche of letters responding to his offer.

[1][5] Nearly fifty-years after Brody Jr.'s death, a sampling of the enormous surviving unopened letters sent to him was opened for the camera, exposing a snapshot of America's hippie, communal, zeitgeist.

[2] In Maitland's follow-up to his 2016 mostly-animated documentary TOWER, he reveals the story of Brody Jr. — and the countless people who sought his help — to create an exposé on desire, need, philanthropy, and love.

The website's critical consensus reads, "Dear Mr. Brody uses its stranger-than-fiction true story to take a touching look at how an act of kindness can reverberate for years.