Returns to rural southern Illinois to reconnect with Stevie, a troubled young boy from ten years ago. The film began as a way of discovering what forces shaped Stevie's life. Part way through the filming, Stevie is arrested for a serious crime, and tears his family apart. The modest profile turned into a chronicle of Stevie, his broken family, the justice system and the filmmaker himself.

Set in 1972 Glasgow, promising student John McGill suffers in school and life due to his older brother's bad reputation, and turns into a violent thug after joining a gang when he feels other opportunities are closed to him.

Jim Stark, the teenage son of a well-to-do family, is overcome by loneliness, frustration and anger, which leads to violence when he seeks approval of a gang of high-school hoodlums.