Synopsis

Fifteen-year-old Marcus makes a living through petty theft and small-time hustles on Manhattan's Lower East Side. His loyalty to a street crew is tested when he meets Melena, an idealistic girl who dreams of escaping to Alaska. As Marcus faces pressure to join more serious crimes, their relationship gives him a glimpse of another future and forces him to choose between belonging and change.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was originally released under the shorter title "Hurricane."

• Morgan J. Freeman wrote the screenplay with Brendan Sexton III in mind after working with him on "Welcome to the Dollhouse."

• Production lasted five weeks and began on July 23, 1996.

• Williamsburg, Brooklyn, was used as a stand-in for Manhattan's East Village.

• At the 1997 Sundance Film Festival, the film won the Audience Award, the Directing Award, and the Cinematography Award. It was reported as the first film to win three awards at the festival.

• The production was made on an estimated budget of $500,000.

• The soundtrack featured Marcy Playground's "Sex and Candy," which helped connect the film with the alternative-rock atmosphere of the late 1990s.

• A scene filmed inside Penn Station was shot without a permit.

• "Hurricane Streets" marked the feature-film debut of cinematographer Enrique Chediak, who later became known for studio productions as well as independent films.