One man lives in the neighborhood, another man owns it. A devoted father battles the local crime boss for the life of his son.

Calogero Anello is a streetwise nine-year old who lives in a small apartment under the strict guidance of his bus driver father Lorenzo. One day Calogero witnesses a murder committed by a local gangster boss, Sonny (Chazz Palminteri). After Calogero refuses to identify Sonny, the gangster takes the boy under his wing, gradually introducing him to a new way of life. Soon, Calogero finds himself torn between two fathers and two very different ways of life. Vividly evoking the sights and sounds of the Bronx, Robert De Niro's directorial debut is a compelling tale of love and loyalty.