Menace II Society

The Hughes brothers' lean, powerful and unflinching look at the mean streets of the urban ghetto.

Shot on location in Los Angeles, this film has been recognised as one of the most striking directorial debuts in black cinema history. It is the story of Caine Lawson (Tyrin Turner), a black youth who, despite his dreams of a better life, ultimately succumbs to the cycle of violence that pervades his community. An extremely powerful, lean and unflinching look at the mean streets of the contemporary urban ghetto, the Hughes' brothers debut was also a huge influence on a subsequent wave of black American filmmakers.