Stevie

One of the highlights of my college education was when former alumnus Steve James showed us his upcoming documentary Hoop Dreams, a film that has since come to be viewed as one of the best American documentaries of all time. The good news is that his latest project, the under-seen Stevie, is similarly powerful. The story follows James’ effort to reconnect with a troubled former “advocate little brother,” Stevie—who during filming is charged with molesting an 8-year-old. As a director, James keenly observes a variety of characters with profound patience and compassion while not shying away from his own introspection. Love, hate, religion, fear—it’s all here, told by the most absorbing characters you’ll see on screen all year. Stevie’s girlfriend is one of the most humane portraits I’ve ever seen on film.