StandingbyYourselftracksthemovementsanddailymachinationsofagroupofoutcastfriendsintheirstrip-mallNewYorkStatehometown.Usingeverythingfromcloselymic-edsubjectstoinfraredvideo,StandingbyYourselfgetsuncomfortablyclosetoitssubjectsastheygetdrunkandhigh,squandermoney,rip-offtheirparents,andgetintroublewithprettymucheveryoneintheirpathsasaconduittosimplyhavingagoodtime.Andyet,aswediscover,thesekidsaresmarterthantheiractionswouldleton...Thefilmcapturesthedailyritualsandmundanitiesoflifeinsuchproximitythateverythingbecomesdrama.Ourcastofcharactersbothloveanddespiseeachother,theirveryactionsacknowledgingthepressuresinherentinatightlybondedpeergroup.Thefactthatthefilmmakersfamilyisintegraltothissliceoflifetakesusthatmuchclosertoitall.