Details

Release year: 1978

Storyline

Set in the Watts area of Los Angeles, a slaughterhouse worker must suspend his emotions to continue working at a job he finds repugnant, and then he finds he has little sensitivity for the family he works so hard to support.

Top credits

Directors

Charles Burnett

Writers

Charles Burnett

Cast

Henry G. Sanders — Stan
Kaycee Moore — Stan's Wife
Charles Bracy — Bracy
Angela Burnett — Stan's Daughter

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Did you know

• The Library of Congress has declared Killer of Sheep (1978) as a national treasure and one of the first 50 on the National Film Registry. The National Society of Film Critics selected it as one of the "100 Essential Films" of all time. However, since the film was made without the proper legal permits and rights acquisition (due to the expense of the music rights) the film was never shown theatrically or made available on video. It had only been seen on poor quality 16mm prints at a scant few museums and film festivals. Thirty years after its premiere the new 35mm print of Killer of Sheep was brilliantly restored by UCLA Film & Television Archive. In addition, all rights were secured for the music, allowing the film to be shown on the film festival circuit, theaters, and nationally broadcast by Turner Classic Movies. The film is also available on DVD.

• Killer of Sheep (1978) was shot in Watts on a budget of less than US$10,000 ($38,000 in 2016 dollars) over roughly a year's worth of weekends in 1972 and 1973, with additional shooting in 1975. In 1977, Charles Burnett submitted the film as his Master of Fine Arts thesis at the School of Film at the University of California, Los Angeles.

• No permits were obtained in the filming of the movie.