Ken Burns at 2004 Full Frame Film Fest, photo by Renee Wright

Filmmaker Ken Burns gives
the 2004 Full Frame
Documentary Film
Festival thumbs up.

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Stevie

Full Frame Documentary Festival, 2003

Reviewed by Allan Maurer

The most intense and moving of the autobiographical entries for me was "Stevie," directed and produced by Steve James, who did the well-known "Hoop Dreams." James tells the story of his friendship with Stevie Fielding, an extremely troubled young man who James knew from a short time as his "big brother." In the course of making the film, Stevie is charged with child molesting and is quite apparently guilty. James's own feelings are torn between his loyalty to Stevie as a friend, his role as a filmmaker and his feelings about Stevie's transgressions.

It can be a difficult film to watch. Dysfunctional barely describes Stevie and his family. James himself is often uncomfortable and you find yourself almost embarrassed at being included as observers of these real family dramas.