Directed by Ralph Nelson • 1977 • United States
Starring Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield, Larry B. Scott

Based on the young-adult novel by Alice Childress, this heartfelt social-issue drama follows the journey of Benjie (Larry B. Scott), a troubled teen growing up in South Central Los Angeles. Traumatized by his father’s desertion and unsettled by his mother’s (Cicely Tyson) relationship with a new boyfriend (Paul Winfield), Benjie begins experimenting with drugs—leading him down a dark path of heroin addiction. Now, Benjie’s family must navigate a host of challenges as they help him to overcome his dependency and get his life back on track.