IN THIS TOGETHER

In 1982, documentarian Steve James (Hoop Dreams, Life Itself) became an advocate for Big Brother, mentoring a neglected 11-year-old boy named Stephen Fielding in the rural town of Pomona, Illinois. In 1995, James returns to catch up with the now-adult Fielding, whose deeply troubled and dysfunctional life has seen its share of run-ins with the law. 

Tinged with guilt for losing touch with his mentee, James begins documenting Fielding in an attempt to better understand the fate that’s dealt him blow after blow of misfortune. But when Fielding is accused of a terrible crime mid-filming, ensuing reflections reveal a cycle of abuse and trauma that has branded generations of his impoverished family. 

Harrowing in its candor, Stevie not only reflects on the failures of the child-welfare system but explores the wrenching complexities of empathy and love for everyone involved. “Stevie is the hardest film I’ve ever made, for very personal reasons. And though I stand behind the honesty of all my films, Stevie is also the most painfully honest film I’ve ever made,” James shares. 

In this discussion, James will revisit his 2002 work, reflecting on the questions it poses and the moral ambiguity of documentary filmmaking itself.