All These Sons

Documentary

Chicago’s South and West sides are infamous for their eye-popping murder rates. Seeking to stem the scourge of crime plaguing their neighborhoods, two men—one atoning for having committed a senseless murder as a youth—create community-based self-help programs to offer mentorship and healing to young men likely to be either victims or perpetrators of gun violence. Seeking understanding rather than judgment, the film witnesses these young men doing the hard work to examine their rationales and fears, often revealing the deep trauma that feeds the cycles of violence that leave all parties damaged. The film follows program participants Shamont, Zay, and Charles as they struggle to tame their past demons and, with the guidance of their mentors, face a brighter future.