A powerful look at the ravages of a drug-filled world and their effect on an impassive twelve-year-old black youth. Fresh (Sean Nelson) is a boy whose life is torn between the two most important men in his life—a powerful, seductive drug dealer who employs him as a courier and his father, an unemployed man with a mind for chess.

"Controversial and intense. The characters are played with intelligence and care."

- Janet Maslin, THE NEW YORK TIMES

"Extraordinary! Completely original. One of the most unforgettable characters in recent American films!"

- Roger Ebert, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

"A feisty THRILLER!"

- Bruce Williamson, PLAYBOY

"A stunner! It makes BOYZ N THE HOOD look like a TV movie of the week."

- Jeff Craig, SIXTY SECOND PREVIEW

"A finely wrought action-mystery!"

- Marcia Pally, PENTHOUSE

"Controversial and intense. The characters are played with intelligence and care."

- Janet Maslin, THE NEW YORK TIMES

"A gritty, uplifting film!"

- Tiarra Mukherjee, VIBE

"Two thumbs up!"

- SISKEL & EBERT

"A riveting and powerful film!"

- Peter Travers, ROLLING STONE

Screenplay by Boaz Yakin

The acclaimed hit at the 1994 New Directors/New Films series of the Film Society of Lincoln Center