Little Criminals

Eleven-year-old Des and his friends engage in vandalism, stealing, lighting fires, mugging people, and experimenting with drugs. They push boundaries to see how far they can go and what they can get away with. In Canada, the film notes that the age of criminal responsibility is twelve, a fact Des tries to exploit later.

Des meets Cory when Cory stands up to a bully on the schoolyard, and they quickly become friends. The two decide to commit crimes together, bonding over their shared defiance. Their alliance marks the start of a dangerous crime spree.

They break into a home and ransack it, with Cory's toddler sister Nonny in tow. The break-in ends with the police arresting them, setting the stage for a more serious criminal path. The incident draws attention to their reckless behavior.

The boys are brought to the police station, where Cory is detained. Cory's mother and stepfather try to keep him away from Des, but the two youths continue to meet despite efforts to separate them. Their friendship persists under the shadow of the law.

Des returns home to find a police officer and a social worker in the kitchen, discussing his behavior with his mother, who does not take the concerns seriously. The scene highlights Des's unstable home life and the lack of support around him. This moment foreshadows the consequences to come.

An incident results in Des being stabbed by his mother, after which he is sent to an assessment centre for troubled children. The move marks a drastic shift away from his familiar environment. At the centre, he begins interacting with staff who will try to guide him.

In the centre, Rita, a psychologist, begins to understand Des's motivations and behavior. She works with him and sees some positive changes over time. Her involvement provides a glimmer of hope amid a troubled life.

Des's mother relinquishes custody and the social services seek a foster home, but Des rejects the idea and runs away as soon as Cory visits. The separation strains the fragile ties between him and his only ally. The pair's momentum toward escape is set in motion.

They decide to get out of the city and target Chet, the local dealer, as a way to fund their escape. The planning shows their desperation and mutual reliance. The plan marks a new, more dangerous phase in their crime spree.

During the robbery, Cory confesses to stealing an item, which prompts Chet to attack him. The confrontation escalates quickly and pushes the situation toward violence. The pair's ill-fated plan spirals out of control.

After hesitation, Des shoots and kills Chet with a stolen firearm. The killing profoundly alters the balance of power between Des and Cory and cements Des's descent into violence. The incident fracturing their partnership becomes a turning point in the story.

Traumatized by Chet's death, Cory becomes afraid of Des and asks his stepfather for protection. He distances himself and breaks away from their once-close partnership. The bond that drove their crimes crumbles under the weight of the violence.

An on-site school police officer reminds Des that he will turn twelve in a month, heightening the sense of imminent consequence. Realizing the risk, Des flees the schoolyard rather than face arrest. The countdown to his birthday adds pressure to his already fragile state.

Still on the run, Des goes home and finds his mother passed out in the bedroom with a boyfriend. The scene underscores the chaotic environment that has shaped him. It deepens his sense of isolation and lack of care.

Des plans to avoid foster care and being arrested when he turns twelve, so he sets the house on fire and hides in a closet. He falls asleep as the flames engulf the home, a grim culmination of his desperation. The ending leaves his fate uncertain as the blaze consumes everything.