Killer of Sheep (1979)

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ½

Killer of Sheep (1979) -- C. Burnett

Lyrical B&W portrait of African-American life in South Central L. A. in the mid-1970s, told in anecdotes with carefully chosen (and apparently not copyright cleared) musical accompaniment. Children feature prominently and a parallel is seemingly drawn between their existence and the lives of the sheep who occupy the abattoir in which the central character works (hence the title). The music also reinforces the sense that America offers no promises or opportunities to these people and that life is a grind ("this bitter earth"). But the movie feels more idyllic than that theme suggests and is certainly worth your while.