Evolution of a Criminal

Darius, a Texas teen, robs a local bank with some friends, making off with over $100,000 – and ultimately spending several years in prison for the crime. Years later, he returns to his family town, to make peace with his surroundings. What’s more, during his stint in prison, he decided to become a filmmaker. Darius Clark Monroe’s documentary is, above all, a series of his interviews with family members, friends from school, teachers, lawyers and victims of the robbery. He attempts to recreate the world in which he grew up by showing people involved in the investigation of his crime, archival images and reenactments. In addition to this being an attempted personal redemption, Evolution of a Criminal touches on issues of the social inequality, poverty and lack of prospects that led to his decision to commit a crime. Monroe does not step back from any confrontation. Camera in hand, he knocks on victims’ doors, telling them outright that he was the perpetrator.