This comment reminded me of the movie Bullet Train. It is a movie that came out in America a few years ago but it is centered on an American who works in organized crime. He is the protagonist, and the antagonist is multiple different Japanese gangs who are working with members of the organized crime world in England. I think the main reason that the American is the protagonist and not just another character is because he spends the whole movie talking about how he is trying to find peace and be, essentially, a good person instead of a criminal. This paints him as a better person to the audience based on what Americans value in our society.

This created an extremely vivid image in my mind. It also reminds me of how someone's childhood can reflect on their future and typically people who fall into organized crime feel like they had no choice based on their childhoods and who they "fell in with" as children.