Stevie

Year: 2002
Directed by: Steve James
Featuring: Steve James, Stephen Fielding, Tonya Gregory and Judy James
Details: 140 mins / Lions Gate / Rated R

Steve James directed Hoop Dreams, a documentary about up and coming basketball players, when he lived in Illinois. Wanting to do “something more” and “make a difference in someone’s life”, James entered the Big Brothers program where he was matched with a young boy named Stevie. Stevie came from a broken home, had learning disabilities and often acted out in school. Steve and Stevie’s relationship was going well, until Steve had to leave for Chicago for a job. Perhaps burdened by guilt, or for pure curiosity, Steve decided to return ten years later with cameras in tow, to catch up with Stevie. What he found was a young man possibly more disturbed than when he left him.

Stevie is a documentary of incredible inter-family complexity. Stevie’s entire family lives within close distance, but their relationships are strained and disturbing - he has lived with his grandmother, for most of his life, because his mother didn’t want him in the house. Both Stevie and his Grandma despise the mother with venom enough to say that they’d rather see her dead. The most stable person in the family seems to be Stevie’s sister Brenda, who has a normal, happy home life - but even she has not escaped some of the ravages of Stevie’s acting out.

The documentary is masterful in the way that it presents Stevie as a completely formed human being. On one level, he’s funny, sweet and actually quite likable. But on another, he’s accused of a truly heinous crime and it’s pretty clear that he’s committed them. We waver this way, between feeling sorry for him and holding him in contempt. Even Steve James is conflicted by his love of Stevie and the belief that he is guilty.

The film’s success as a documentary relies on the fascinating portraits of all the people surrounding Stevie. Tonya, Stevie’s fiancee at first glance appears to be mentally disabled but her words strike to the very core of what Stevie is, and what the situation is around her. With the differences between Tonya, Stevie and Steve James, it’s clear that Stevie is a film that wears class issues directly on its sleeve, and bravely director Steve James isn’t afraid to expose his own biases, prejudices, and fears directly on camera. Perhaps it’s out of guilt for what happened to Stevie when he was gone.

Stevie was let down by so many people on so many levels, that it’s no wonder he turned out the way he did. It’s a sad portrait of a kid that never got a chance.

Movie Grade: A

Video: 3 out of 5
It’s a 16mm presentation, so I’d call it par for the course.
Widescreen Anamorphic - 1.85:1

Audio: 3 out of 5
Again, simple stereo - your average documentary soundtrack.
English (Dolby 2.0)

Extras: 3 out of 5
Quality over quantity in this one. The commentary track with Steve James and his producers should be experienced along with the movie. They provide some valuable insight into the production, Stevie’s life and other elements of the film. There are also five deleted scenes. These are pretty short, but you can see them with director’s commentary.

Overall: 4 out of 5
Stevie is a great documentary that despite it’s rather heavy subject matter, proves to be a fascinating and entertaining film. Highly recommended for fans of all non-fiction film.

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