Leland is an imprisoned teenager doing time for the stabbing murder of a disabled boy. Prison writing teacher Pearl Madison gets caught up in the story with the intention of making a book out of it, especially when he finds out that Leland's father is the famous novelist Albert Fitzgerald. Pearl's investigation uncovers some of the details and effects of the murder for everyone involved, including the victim's parents, Harry and Karen Pollard. Becky is the teenage junkie who is both Leland's ex-girlfriend and the victim's sister. The situation also complicates the relationship between Becky's older sister, Jennifer, and her sensitive boyfriend, Allen. Leland slowly discloses his sad vision of the world.
Director: Matthew Ryan Hoge
Writer: Matthew Ryan Hoge
Stars: Ryan Gosling, Don Cheadle and Kevin Spacey
