In this absorbing drama, a young man faces a callous world after his release from prison. His only safety net is his successful older brother, who tries to help, but their long gap in communication leaves this relationship tenuous.
There are other problems, and one is pressing: a former acquaintance in prison is demanding money, and fast. There are also glimmers of hope when a girl says she's cool with his past. Good things start to develop there. But as much as this ex-con wants to leave his whole incarceration experience far behind, the vortex of the past keeps pulling him back under the waves. Now he has a decision to make: how can he overcome fate without committing a crime that will put him right back behind bars?
New Jersey-based director and co-producer Chris Cardillo tells his story with a measure of East Coast grit, which makes the film feel authentic. His inspiration was a younger sibling's arrest for a minor, non-violent offense. Although prosecutors eventually dropped the charges, the elder Cardillo gained a new perspective on ex-convicts who are free in name only, with tough stigmas that make reintegration into society extremely difficult.
You can watch the trailer here: Second Chance City Trailer
