Killer of Sheep, directed by Charles Burnett and released in 1978, is a seminal piece of American independent cinema, exploring the everyday life of a working-class African American family living in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. The film is a gritty, realistic portrayal of the struggles faced by these individuals, whose mundane lives are marked by poverty, isolation, and a pervasive lack of hope. Despite its bleak subject matter, however, Killer of Sheep is also a profoundly moving and lyrical work of art, featuring a soundtrack of blues music that is both haunting and uplifting. In this article, we will explore the connection between the film and the blues, arguing that watching Killer of Sheep will turn you into a blues fan by immersing you in the rich cultural heritage of this quintessentially American musical form.
To begin with, it is important to understand what the blues is, and why it is such a significant aspect of American culture. Essentially, the blues is a genre of music that originated in the African American communities of the Deep South in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is characterized by a distinctive 12-bar structure, with lyrics that typically express feelings of sadness, despair, and longing. While the blues has evolved and diversified over time, it remains one of the most enduring and influential genres of American music, shaping the development of jazz, rock and roll, and countless other forms.
Universal Themes
One of the reasons that the blues has such a powerful resonance with so many people is that it speaks to universal human experiences of pain, struggle, and loss. As the writer Tom Piazza puts it in his book The Blues: “The blues is the music of people who have been hard hit, and who have been ignored or taken advantage of by the rich and powerful. It is their way of turning the tables for a little while, of speaking their own truth, on their own terms, and being heard.” This sense of authenticity and resilience is precisely what makes the blues so compelling, especially in the context of a film like Killer of Sheep, which similarly captures the rhythms and textures of everyday life for a community on the margins.
Blues is Art
Indeed, the soundtrack of Killer of Sheep is a powerful testament to the enduring vitality of the blues as an art form. The film features a diverse array of blues songs, ranging from classic standards to lesser-known gems, all of which serve to deepen the emotional impact of the story. For example, in an early scene, we see the main character, Stan (played by Henry G. Sanders), working at a slaughterhouse, surrounded by the sounds of machinery and death. Over this cacophony, we hear the plaintive strains of Dinah Washington’s “This Bitter Earth,” a song that perfectly captures the sense of despair and futility that permeates Stan’s life. Similarly, later in the film, we hear the stirring harmonies of “I Will Remember Your Smile,” a song by the obscure blues singer Little Milton, as Stan and his wife Millie (played by Kaycee Moore) dance and laugh together, momentarily forgetting the hardships that surround them.
Cultural Heritage
Overall, the music in Killer of Sheep serves as a kind of emotional anchor for the film, grounding the audience in the rich cultural heritage of African American music. By immersing us in the world of the blues, the film invites us to reflect on the experiences of the characters we are seeing onscreen, and to empathize with their struggles in a deeper and more meaningful way. This, in turn, cultivates a sense of connection and solidarity between the viewer and the people whose lives the film portrays, fostering a sense of communal empathy and understanding.
But the impact of Killer of Sheep goes beyond mere empathy; it also has the power to transform us as listeners and lovers of music. By exposing us to the beauty and complexity of the blues, the film opens up new vistas of sonic possibility, inspiring us to seek out other great blues artists and to explore the genre in more depth. The film also contextualizes the blues within the wider cultural and historical landscape of America, offering a rich and nuanced perspective on the ways in which music has been used as a tool of resistance and renewal. In this sense, watching Killer of Sheep can be seen as a kind of education in the power and potential of blues music, illuminating aspects of the genre that may have previously been obscure or unappreciated.
Conclusion
Ultimately, then, watching Killer of Sheep is an immersive and transformative experience, one that offers us a window into the rich cultural heritage of the blues and the ongoing struggles of African American communities in America. By immersing us in the world of the film, and by using the music of the blues as a kind of emotional anchor, the film invites us to connect with these communities, to see the world from their perspective, and to appreciate the richness and complexity of their cultural traditions. At the same time, though, the film also has the power to transform us as listeners, challenging us to explore the music of the blues in more depth, and to appreciate the profound cultural significance that it holds for so many people. In this way, watching Killer of Sheep is not only a profound artistic experience, but also a powerful social and political one, capable of opening doors and broadening horizons in ways that are both inspiring and deeply meaningful.
I feel incredibly lucky to have discovered this hidden cinematic gem, which has since become an integral part of my life. There are certain films that leave an indelible mark on your soul, forever etched in your memory and constantly calling you back for more. For me, this movie is one of those rare treasures. Through its mesmerisingly meditative pace and captivating use of Blues music, it opened my eyes to the profound beauty and power of this often-overlooked genre. Suddenly, I found myself falling head over heels for the stirring melodies, evocative lyrics and soulful atmosphere of the music. And now, as I cruise along in my car, there is nothing better to feed my soul than a classic old Blues song. Simply put, I wholeheartedly recommend this film – not just for its cinematic brilliance, but for the unforgettable experience of discovering the magic of Blues music.
