Filmed over a period of 12 years with the same cast members, the film begins as Olivia moves to Houston, Texas, with her son Mason and daughter Samantha after the disintegration of her marriage to the children's father. From then on we follow Mason as he progresses from a child to a young man while dealing with his parents' divorce and the numerous other difficulties of growing up. A groundbreaking, hypnotic, almost voyeuristic tour de force from Richard Linklater...watch the many deserved awards role in.