Killer of Sheep

Killer of Sheep was a 16mm film shot in 1977 by then student Charles Burnett. Burnett had almost forgotten about it when he was told that it was deteriorating, so it was restored to a 35mm print and released theatrically last year. It was made for just about $10,000 with mostly amateur actors. The re-release was something of a sensation among the cognoscenti of independent American films.

I've only seen one other Burnett film, To Sleep With Anger, and I don't remember much about it. What's notable about Burnett is that he chronicles African-American life, which still, sadly, is something of a novelty. Killer of Sheep deals with black folks who live in the L.A. neighborhood of Watts. The main character, Stan, works at a meat plant, where he slaughters sheep. That's about the best I can do in a synopsis, for this film really doesn't have a plot, nor does it have character arcs. In the style of Italian neo-realists, it's simply a series of vignettes featuring Stan, his family, and his community.

I must take a deep breath and admit here I found it all a little dull. There are some interesting scenes and images--I laughed out loud at a scene where Stan and his buddy struggle to put a car motor in the back of a pickup truck, only to have it fall out and break when they begin to pull away. There's also a lovely scene in which Stan and his wife dance, with the black and white photography silhouetting their forms in the sunlight through a window. There's a lot of shots of kids playing and roughhousing (usually one kid ends up hurt and crying). But most of it just is, and without much of a point. I guess it's interesting in an sociological sort of way, but as a movie it made my eyelids pretty heavy. Fortunately it's only 83 minutes long.

The film was never released back in the day because Burnett couldn't afford the licensing of the music, and it's easy to hear why--the soundtrack is loaded with the giants of African-American music, from Scott Joplin to Paul Robeson to Dinah Washington to Earth, Wind, and Fire. This works with the film to an immensely satisfying degree. But I wouldn't advise watching this film while sleepy.