3. Scum (1979)
Carlin, Davis and Angel are three young men who arrive together for a stay at Borstal. Carlin wants to maintain a low key presence because he beat up a warden in his last borstal. He makes friends with Archer - an intellectual and non conformist inmate who wants to stir up trouble by playing mind games with the wardens. The 'Daddy' of the unit - Banks, has heard of Carlin's formidable reputation and wants to fight him in a display of dominance. Carlin steps back but gets ticked off when he sees Banks bullying the timid Davis. In the film's most iconic scene, he puts snooker balls into a sock and bashes Banks up, thereby becoming the 'Daddy' of the borstal. Carlin's regime is progressive and milder than his predecessor's. The picking on of weak inmates is reduced as is racial violence. He even works alongside the prison's governor who sees him as a force for good. Unfortunately Carlin cannot prevent thug elements from having their way with the weakest prisoners. Davis is framed for theft and gang raped by three inmates in the potting shed. A nearby corrupt warden lets this happen. Davis is in a state of despair and slashes his wrists as a cry for help. He pushes the panic button whilst blood is pumping out of his wrists. The wardens ignore him, only to find him dead in the morning in a crimson soaked cell. This leads to mutiny among the prisoners and they start a riot at lunch time, authorised by Carlin. The film ends with a prayer service for Davis and Toyne - a former prisoner who committed suicide in another borstal. Dark, dark, dark viewing matter under the direction of Alan Clarke, Scum is highly confrontational and pulls no punches when it comes to portraying life in a men's prison (borstal) which is really a test of survival of the fittest. Scum is full of memorable scenes and quotes, Davis' suicide really stood out for me and affected me the most. It is a harrowing scene made all the more unbearable by the callous indifference of the wardens to his cries for help. Bloody Mary Whitehouse privately prosecuted Channel 4 for showing Scum but someone saw sense and reversed the decision. There is no glamorisation of violence in the film, it is portrayed honestly and responsibly with the consequences clearly shown. Nobody is going to watch it and be inspired to violence - the film is so raw and depressing. Borstals have since been replaced by Young Offenders' Institutes but prison life is sadly predictable and there are likely hundreds of Davises all over the country. Suicide rates in British prisons are very high and Scum is a voice for the powerless. A true glimpse into the hell that is our penal system.