Tania Verafield

From the writer of "Training Day," Harsh Times is a gritty look at friendship, loyalty and ambition on the extremely rough streets of south central Los Angeles. (MGM)

Victor falls helplessly in love with a the prettiest girl in high school, Anya, and via strange ways he somehow catches her interest. But there are many people who don't like to see the nervous 1st-year boy get the 3rd-year darling. A film about meeting the first love, it's humorous and daring (for an american audience) and not as cliché as the storyline might hint!

Things are not looking good for Brook, a young, talented singer/songwriter who has become the clichéd tortured artist. Slow to come to terms with the death of his mother, Brook is self-absorbed, aggressive, and the major obstruction to his own career success. His isolation is lifted when his three sisters and estranged father come to spread his mother's ashes. (mubi.com)

A day at a group home for troubled adolescents. Denim is the head counselor, involved somehow with Natalia, another counselor. During the day, we watch them and other staff deal with a boy who's getting into fights though he has only a week to go before his 18th birthday, a girl whose birthday it is, a foul-mouthed lad, and others. Denim uses music to calm one youth, orients a new staff member, sneaks a marijuana cigarette during a break, and by the day's end, talks to Natalia. (imdb)