Parent-in-Training

In the new comedy film The Breadwinner, Nate Wilcox is learning how to manage his stay-at-home-dad life after his wife’s business gets popular. As he takes on more responsibility for his three daughters, Nate learns the importance of teamwork. From silly and heartwarming moments, he also learns more about the struggles of parenting.

The film stars Nate Bargatze and Mandy Moore. Speaking with TIME for Kids, the actors discussed how they connected with their characters, and what they hoped audiences will take from the film.

Bargatze, who cowrote the movie, says he was largely inspired by his life. He has a daughter of his own. And he says he was able to “write a lot of stuff in the way that I would say it,” which made his character similar to him in many ways.

Moore, who plays Katie, the film’s mother of three, is a mother of three in real life. She says she connected with her character’s struggle to balance work with family responsibilities. Katie feels “torn between working and being an entrepreneur and being at home,” Moore says.

Both actors hope families take meaningful lessons from the movie. Moore says she hopes moms feel “celebrated and acknowledged” while dads feel “empowered.” Bargatze adds that “there’s a point where you’ve got to just figure it out on your own,” and do the best you can.