This bitter earth ...

If Charles Burnett's Killer of Sheep (1977) plays near you (it's currently at the IFC Center in New York after being restored), it's well worth a look. It's a document of life in Watts, often seen from a child's viewpoint -- the scene above, where a little girl sings along with the record player, was my favorite -- although the main character is her father, who works in a slaughterhouse. The soundtrack of classic blues, jazz and standards features Dinah Washington, Louis Armstrong, Earth, Wind and Fire and others; it's as much a character as the men and women, with many scenes consisting of only music and a quietly observing camera. (The high cost of the music rights was also the reason the film never had a real release until now.) Watch the trailer here.