Charles Burnett (To Sleep with Anger, The Glass Shield)’s MFA thesis film went without a theatrical release for about 30 years due to difficulty in obtaining music licenses. But in 2007 the rights were secured and the world at large was introduced to his chronicle of urban life in the 70s, shot in a style reminiscent of the Italian neo-realists. Sure, The National Society of Film Critics says it’s one of the 100 Essential Films, but more important, what does the Arts and Crap crew think?

The film starts Henry G. Sanders (Whiplash [so you can program yourself an Arts and Crap/Henry G. Sanders playlist], The Rockford Files), and Kaycee Moore (Bless Their Little Hearts, Daughters of the Dust).

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