Killer of Sheep (1977, 2007)

Last updated on: April 11, 2013 at 12:40 pm by Guest Contributor

Killer of Sheep (1977, 2007) 2013-04-11T12:40:19-06:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Filmed in 1977 as a thesis project on a budget of about $10,000, Charles Burnett’s award-winning Killer of Sheep won an award in Berlin in 1981, and was among the first 50 films entered in the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry. The National Society of Film Critics named it one of 100 “essential films.” And Andrew O’Hehir at Salon.com calls Burnett “the most important African-American director” and “one of the most distinctive filmmakers this country has ever produced.”

But this movie was almost impossible for American film enthusiasts to see until IFC restored it for a DVD release in 2007.

It’s still amazing.

Filmed in black and white, it carries on a meditative tour of the Watts neighborhood in 1977, an L.A. ghetto where many barely have enough resources to feed themselves. Every day presents them with opportunities to compromise in order to get by. It’s a battlefield of temptations and dangers. And the noblest fellow in the neighborhood — Stan, a slaughterhouse worker — is becoming despondent, feeling powerless to change his predicament. He and his neighbors have a common challenge — seemingly inescapable poverty, the pain of which is enhanced by a constant awareness of America’s promises.

Burnett’s meditative style does not draw attention to itself. With his patient gaze, he seems fascinated by children in rowdy play, teenagers caught between confusing societal pressures, and adults who either struggle to live with dignity in their poverty, or who give in to the attraction of crime. The camera’s way of drifting down alleys, through walls, and into characters’ private moments recalls Wim Wenders’ Wings of Desire. But there don’t seem to be any benevolent angels in sight.

It’s also to Burnett’s credit that he is able to observe problems of class and race without narrowing his vision to become an “issues movie” or a sermon. His characters have been dealt a bad hand, but some of them are making hard times worse. Despite Burnett’s marvelous eye for the specifics of a time and a place, his subject is nothing less than the human condition, and his mode is closer to epic poetry than documentary or drama. While the acting is sometimes amateurish — Burnett was working with the resources at hand, rather than drawing from a host of accomplished actors — these weaker moments are forgivable in view of extraordinary scenes involving children, and images that are as detailed and deep as those you’ll find in the works of masters like Ozu or Tarkovsky.

[Update: This film was selected for The Arts and Faith Top 100 Films List in 2010.]

Previous Post

January 6, 2008

Seitz on Paul Thomas Anderson

Next Post

January 6, 2008 Looking Closer's 25 Favorite Films of 2007 (With an Introduction About List-Making)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Blog Bloggers on "Through a Screen Darkly" Browser Coming Soon Endorsements Fiction Books Film Forum Film Reviews Inspirations Interviews Journal Kindlings Muse Movie buzz Music Reviews Non-Fiction Books radio Reviewers on "Through a Screen Darkly" The Auralia Thread Through a Screen Darkly Through a Screen Darkly - Bonus Materials Top 10 (or 20 or 100) lists Uncategorized

Select a Month June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 July 2003 May 2003 March 2003 September 1999

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which sea did Moses part during the Exodus?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Red Sea Sea of Galilee Dead Sea Mediterranean Sea