Set in 1975, HIGH CHICAGO is a gritty drama about Sam, a 42-year-old husband and father of three, in the grip of a serious gambling addiction. Living on the edge of poverty in a northern mining town, Sam has been stoking the same blast furnace for ten years. Then Sam loses his job; instead of admitting his failure to his wife Ruth, he chooses instead to chase the foolhardy dream of traveling to Africa to open a drive-in theater, a scheme hatched years earlier in the navy. He enlists the help of Buzz, an old acquaintance with a large lawsuit settlement and places a large bet on a 'sure thing'. Surprisingly, Sam's risk pays off and he feels his life is finally on the upswing until Ruth discovers his secret and enlists her sister and brother-in-law to make Sam see reason. Feeling the pressure to deliver, Sam heads to Popeye's, his regular gaming house, to play with the 'high roller' that has just breezed into town. Sam's up when Ruth calls, threatening to call the cops. Sam rushes home where Ruth gives him an ultimatum: give up the gambling or he'll find the house empty when he gets back. Sam chooses the game - and his dream - until the cards elude him and he's wiped out. Months later, he makes a fresh start by opening a drive-in theater in town and invites Ruth to see her favorite movie in the hopes of reconciliation.

Directed by: Alfons Adetuyi