Les années lumière (1981)

 

 

A young drifter meets up with a strange old man who claims that he has been taught to fly by birds. 

 

From memory: Powerful parable from a master director, compelling and complex, despite the absurdity of its premise, and the two leads are excellent.

 

Maltin***: "Thoughtful yarn well acted by its two leads." 

Scum (1979)

Story of life in a British juvenile offender institution in the 70's.

Realistic, unvarnished look at a penitentiary for juvenile delinquents was, at the time, meant to be a specific political indictment, but its message is still valid and timeless.

Halliwell*: "Gorily overstated view of boys' prison life from the inside, with the camera gloating over each violent close-up."

Maltin**1/2: "Harrowing but familiar; the accents are almost unintelligible."