Killer of Sheep

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Allan C @RT15713161 Jul 25 Italian Neorealism comes to Watts The Killer of Sheep (1978) **** KILLER OF SHEEP is a powerful, neorealist portrait of life in 1970s Watts, using a series of intimate vignettes to capture both the hardships and humanity of its community. Though some performances are rough, its striking black-and-white photography and deeply authentic depiction of everyday life make it an unforgettable film. SEE LETTERBOXED FOR FULL REVIEW See more Garry A @heavyg Jan 4 Nothing really happens in this film. It's a collection of everyday moments and experiences. Sometimes it's fascinating and sometimes it's boring. See more Stephen C @bob25009 07/19/2025 Success in 1 1/3 hours. See more ulyssesmovieblog b @RT05396176 06/10/2025 More than a story of poverty and alienation, Killer of Sheep offers a universal narrative of humanity’s life of small joys and struggles. Burnett’s minimalist and lyrical style makes the film not only a social drama but also a work of art. The film was one of the pioneers of the “Black Cinema” movement in American cinema and is still influential today. https://ulyssesmovieblog.com/killer-of-sheep-a-poetic-portrait-of-poverty-and-alienation/ See more s r @ScottR 06/06/2022 1001 movies to see before you die. This one was raw and provided a glimpse into life in Watts in the late 70s. It was informative, but a bit slow at times. The use of the Afro American Symphony 1st movement was my favorite part. It was a STG DVD. See more William L @RT77267842 10/19/2021 There were kids doing parkour in LA in the 1970s? Who knew? My first exposure to the notoriously underrecognized American director Charles Burnett, Killer of Sheep is proof positive that student films can actually be more than just academic requirements. What a then-28-year old Burnett brings to this film on a shoestring budget, with an unlicensed soundtrack and a ragtag collection of largely nonprofessional acting talent, is a triumph of human-focused filmmaking in the manner of a Satyajit Ray, Roberto Rosselini, or Abbas Kiarostami. The story takes the everyday life of a working-class man and presents it as both a melancholic fight and a triumph of simply existing, infusing it with wonderfully candid depictions of LA's Watts district. Henry Sanders delivers the perfect combination of the 'bend-don't-break' sensibilites that characterize the everyman's struggle, contending with his dead-end profession, slow-paced home life, and ambitions beyond his current circumstances. Seeing his negotiation for a secondhand motor with his little disposable income, only to have it fall off the bed of a pickup and be rendered worthless, is a heartbreaking moment. A triumph of restrained filmmaking, relying on honesty, character, and empathy to carry the day, Killer of Sheep is neorealist-inspired masterpiece that has been confined to obscurity for far too long. (4.5/5) See more Read all reviews

Killer of Sheep

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