Stevie Documentary
Stevie
(2002)
Directed by: Steve James
Stevie is a very powerful, eye-opening and thought provoking documentary. It was filmed in 1995 by Steve James, an award winning director/documentarian. Steve James was born in 1955 in rural Illinois. He is also the Director/Producer of a number of great documentaries such as Hoop Dreams, The New Americans and a great film we have recently watched in class The Interrupters. This 2002 documentary “Stevie” accounts the unfortunate events of a disadvantaged young man’s journey from boy to man, and the entire struggle in between. Mr. James was an advocate big brother in 1982 where he met a troubled young man named Steven Fielding’s. They would meet once a week as big brothers do, in which time they built a relationship. Years later the big brother contract had ended and Mr. James and Stevie had lost touch. Later on in life Mr. James developed feelings of guilt and that maybe he had abandoned Stevie. So he decided to return back to the town of Paloma, Illinois 10 years later, to chronicle the events of Stevie’s life.
Steven Fieldings was born on March 18th, 1971 in Paloma, Illinois to Parents Bernice and step father Orville. He has a sister named Brenda who ends up being his social security payee and a vital part of his life in Illinois. Stevie suffered severe physical, emotional and sexual abuse in his child hood. He spent the first few years of his life in the care of his Mother and Step Father Oriville, whom up until Stevie was an adult thought was his biological father. His Mother Bernice was allegedly very rough and abusive with young Steven when he would “act up” or “talk back” as she puts it. Eventually young Steven was sent to live under the care and supervision of his Grandmother Verna Helger who cared and loved Steven dearly. His Grandmother was getting on in age and was unable to give Steven the care and attention he needed.
In 1986 Stevie was given to the state for permanent placement in foster care. Stevie
(2002)
Directed by: Steve James
Stevie is a very powerful, eye-opening and thought provoking documentary. It was filmed in 1995 by Steve James, an award winning director/documentarian. Steve James was born in 1955 in rural Illinois. He is also the Director/Producer of a number of great documentaries such as Hoop Dreams, The New Americans and a great film we have recently watched in class The Interrupters. This 2002 documentary “Stevie” accounts the unfortunate events of a disadvantaged young man’s journey from boy to man, and the entire struggle in between. Mr. James was an advocate big brother in 1982 where he met a troubled young man named Steven Fielding’s. They would meet once a week as big brothers do, in which time they built a relationship. Years later the big brother contract had ended and Mr. James and Stevie had lost touch. Later on in life Mr. James developed feelings of guilt and that maybe he had abandoned Stevie. So he decided to return back to the town of Paloma, Illinois 10 years later, to chronicle the events of Stevie’s life.
Steven Fieldings was born on March 18th, 1971 in Paloma, Illinois to Parents Bernice and step father Orville. He has a sister named Brenda who ends up being his social security payee and a vital part of his life in Illinois. Stevie suffered severe physical, emotional and sexual abuse in his child hood. He spent the first few years of his life in the care of his Mother and Step Father Oriville, whom up until Stevie was an adult thought was his biological father. His Mother Bernice was allegedly very rough and abusive with young Steven when he would “act up” or “talk back” as she puts it. Eventually young Steven was sent to live under the care and supervision of his Grandmother Verna Helger who cared and loved Steven dearly. His Grandmother was getting on in age and was unable to give Steven the care and attention he needed.
In 1986 Stevie was given to the state for permanent placement in foster care. Stevie
References: Movie (documentary) : 1. Stevie – (2002) Directed by Steve James, Adam Singer, Gordon Quinn. Distributed by Kartemquin Films, United States. Weblinks: 1. http://www.camh.ca/en/hospital/health_information/a_z_mental_health_and_addiction_information/Post-traumatic/Pages/pstd.aspx 2. http://factnet.org/vbforum/showthread.php?12253-Characteristics-of-a-Sociopath 3. http://www.asca.org.au/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=11 4. https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/long_term_consequences.cfm