Evengyny Thanks for the memories!

Konterr Brilliant and touching

Ava-Grace Willis Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Kamila Bell This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Rozzi1 The inspiration for the Canadian film "Dog Pound", it was made in 1977 as a television drama but was promptly banned due to its content – two years later director Alan Clarke re-made the film for cinema. In my opinion the cinema film "Scum" (1979) is far superior to the 1977 original. The vast majority of the cast are the same, and except for several scenes, the reduction of several sub-plots (such as the character Rhodes, who appears in the 1979 version but is never named), and for the opening sequence, the story and characters are otherwise the same.The story follows the journey of three inmates in a Borstal (a young offenders prison). Carlin, the principal character, has been transferred from another Borstal for allegedly assaulting an officer. Davis has been transferred from a more relaxed Borstal for attempting to escape, and Angel has arrived fresh from being on remand at Wormwood Scrubs (a prison in West London).The borstal is controlled by a harsh, unyielding discipline meted out by the unrelenting cruelty of the officers – who randomly beat and brutalise the young inmates – and by the viciousness and savagery of the inmate 'Daddy' cliques who run the underbelly of each cell-block.With his reputation of being a rebel against authority and a fighter preceding him, Carlin is singled out and soon has no option but to fight the 'daddies' and use his cunning to outwit the officers intent on victimising him. When Carlin emerges as the new 'Daddy' of his cell-block, the bullying suffered by Davis and the racial attacks suffered by Angel subside. As their journeys continue, alongside the journeys of several other inmates picked-up as the story progresses (such as Archer, Toyne, Meekin), the narrative focuses on the conflict between the individual and the system; how the identities of the inmates become eroded – how some adapt in order to survive the system and how others capitulate. "Scum" is an extremely violent and disturbing film which displays a no-holds barred sense of brutality and realism. Climaxing with a full-scale riot as the inmates explode and rise up against the oppression of the regime, the final question posed is whether or not the system can be beaten.

Michael Radny Unbelievable! Scum is one of those films that will rarely be watched but should be watched by all. It has that nature of being provocative, whilst being entertaining and informative. Scum tells the tale of so many institutionalized boys during the 60' and 70's who were so unfairly punished and treated by the authority figures that it makes the viewer so enraged that you just hope for a just ending.One of the great 'never-heard-of-films'. Scum makes you think and believe that one of the most torturous punishments and corruption cannot be true. Whilst this may be a microcosm for society, it is undoubtedly a simile for prison and others of the likes. One great film indeed.

Jackson Booth-Millard I had heard about this British film, not just because of two of the stars that have gone on to have well known careers, but also because this film was previously originally made for television as part of Play for Today (like Abigail's Party), but it was banned due to its controversial material, so I looked forward to this film version. Basically the film is set inside a young offenders institute, and the three new arrivals at the borstal are Carlin (Ray Winstone), who is taking the blame for his brother crime of stealing scrap metal, Angel (Alrick Riley) who was arrested for carjacking, and Davis (Julian Firth) who attempted an escape from another institution. They are all given rooms, Angel and Davis in private rooms, and Carlin, who wants to keep a low profile, is put in the dormitory, he befriends eccentric and intellectual inmate Archer (Mick Ford), and he often runs into the "Daddy" who "runs" the prison Banks (John Blundell), backed up by cohorts, such as Richards (Phil Daniels), he is looking for a fight. Having watched numerous attacks, including on timid and vulnerable Davis Carlin struggles to settle into the dormitory, but it is after an unprovoked attack that he gets his revenge on Banks, with a makeshift bludgeon he beats him and his companions and replaces him as the "Daddy", later also gaining power over other wings. With his reputation and status secured life for the inmates improves, preventing the victimisation and beatings of younger and weaker prisoners, and also racist attacks, he also becomes some kind of ally to the warders, as a "natural leader" he is granted his request for a single cell, and Goodyear (John Grillo) gives him opportunity of real leadership in the borstal. Prisoner Toyne (Herbert Norville) sinks into despair having learnt from his in-laws in a letter that his wife has died, he slashes his wrists, this second suicide attempt is confirmed as his death and word is spread around the prison. Davis meanwhile is framed by Eckersley (Ray Burdis) for stealing and put on report, but things get worse when three youths gang-rape him in a potting shed, warder Sands (John Judd) witnesses it but only smiles, walks away and takes no action, Davis feeling worthless also kills himself by slashing his wrists. During the night Davis was bleeding to death he did press the button to call for help, but warder Greaves (Philip Jackson) ignored the alarm, and mass hysteria spreads in the prison following this suicide, and this comes to a head when the inmates refuse to eat their dinner, and a full scale riot is initiated by Carlin in the hall. Carlin, Archer and Toyne's friend Meakin (Alan Igbon) are seen bleeding and unconscious being dragged into solitary confinement, but when they are let out things settle, and Governor Baildon (Peter Howell) tells how the damage will be repaid, and it ends with the declaration of a prayer and minute's silence for dead prisoners Toyne and Davis. Also starring John Fowler as Woods and Nigel Humphreys as Taylor. Winstone was obviously little known at the time, he gives a great performance the authoritative prisoner who gains respect through violence, other supporting stars like Daniels and Firth do very well also, there is no storyline or plot as such, but the docudrama style and many disturbing moments, especially the vicious fights and of course brutal rape scene are powerful, it is a controversial but most watchable crime drama. Very good!

Jack Hawkins (Hawkensian) Despite being released over 30 years ago, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Scum has lost none of its punch. It is an unforgiving portrait of the British borstal system - 1 hour and 30 minutes of both physical and psychological abuse.The film examines the hierarchy of the borstal, looking at the behaviour and roles of both the officers and the inmates, questioning who's worse. This hierarchy is ruptured when Carlin (Ray Winstone) enters the borstal. Carlin claims to be looking for 'no trouble', but really he is equally or even more pugnacious and skullduggerous than the rest.Much like 'Cool Hand Luke' and 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest', 'Scum' explores the infuriating frustration of injustice in 'correctional' institutions. Personally, I find few things worse than the abuse of power, whether it's within an institution, a family or any other context. I'm sure many would agree, subsequently making 'Scum' an engrossing and unpleasant watch for all.Asides from Carlin, the most significant character is Archer (Mick Ford), an intelligent, disaffected vegan who is a habitual troublemaker. Archer serves as an interesting plot device; he offers intelligent, biting monologues on the flaws of the institution, most notably to an officer's face, who retaliates by reducing their civil conversation into another officious, hostile procedure.It's Carlin's arrival, growth and ultimately tenure as 'The Daddy' that serves as the central narrative of the film, but thematically the film acts as a condemnation of the borstal system and its corrupt, vindictive employees. One may wonder if the film is hyperbolic, but the borstal system was abolished by government in 1982, replacing it instead with 'Youth Custody Centres'. This corroborates Scum's credibility.www.hawkensian.com