Scum (1979)

Written by Roy Minton

Directed by Alan Clarke

Running Time: 130 minutes (approx)

Production Year: 1979

Rating: 18 Certificate

Production Country: UK

Filmed in Colour

This is Alan Clarke's brilliantly hard-hitting shocking controversial story of the cruelty and violence inside a Government Borstal for young offenders.

Luckily the regime has changed since this film was made. The brutal regime made no attempt to reform or improve the inmates and actively encouraged a power struggle between the 'tough' new inmate and the 'old hands'.

The film powerfully and sensationally portrays one man's struggle against all odds to be top dog in a system that is intent on breaking his spirit.

Alan Clarke's brilliantly unforgiving portrayal of Borstal life was originally made as a BBC play but it was banned before ever being shown. So Clarke, Alan and 'Roy Minton' (qv) got it re-made as a film. This is a tough and brutal film and should not be viewed lightly.