American History X, directed by Tony Kaye, is a must see film. It was Academy Award-nominated in 1998 and continues to have a profound effect on its viewers. The film tells a story about two brothers, Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton) and Daniel Vinyard (Edward Furlong), joining a neo-Nazi movement when their father is murdered by an African-American drug dealer.

The film takes place in Venice Beach, Los Angeles, California where both brothers become deeply involved in a violent gang. Derek soon becomes the leader of the gang with his younger brother, Daniel, known as Danny throughout the film, following his every move. One night, Derek finds a black rival gang member in his garage trying to steal his car. He runs after him with a gun and kills two of the gang members while Danny watches from the house.

Derek is sent to jail to do some hard time for the violent crime and while he's in jail, he realizes the truth about gangs and life behind bars. When he's released, he decides to do everything he can to make sure his brother doesn't follow down the wrong path like he did. As Derek struggles with teaching his brother right from wrong, he soon finds that the gang that once saw him as their leader has turned against him when they find out he's no longer following their cause.

Danny must make a decision to either follow the gang that has protected him while his brother was in jail and been like a family to him, or take his brother's advice. The film is truly inspiring and shows the reality of young people growing up in gangs.