The United States of Leland

Crime. Confusion. Compassion. They're all just states of mind.

A somber, introspective examination of a senseless murder and its rippling psychological aftermath, exploring the unknowability of human motivation through multiple perspectives.

A withdrawn young man, Leland Fitzgerald is imprisoned for the murder of a mentally disabled boy, who also happened to be the brother of his girlfriend, Becky. As the community struggles to deal with the killing, Pearl Madison, a teacher at the prison, decides to write about Leland's case. Meanwhile, others affected by the murder, including Becky and her sister, Julie, must contend with their own problems.