When They See Us

WHEN THEY SEE US begins on a spring night as a large group of kids from Harlem go walking through Central Park. Some are just hanging out, while others are harassing bicyclists and getting into fights until the police come and make a handful of forceful arrests. The next morning, the police discover that the violent rape of a 28-year-old woman has also taken place in Central Park, and suspect the teens. They zero in on five kids, using illegal and manipulative tactics to force confessions from them. This is a dramatic account of the aftermath of this real-life New York City crime that shook the country. Prosecutor Linda Fairstein (Felicity Huffman) states her case against the Five during courtroom proceedings, while the teens' parents are portrayed by actors including Niecy Nash and John Leguizamo.