Scum 1980

A young offender finds himself sent to a borstal, a term synonymous with “reform school” in American parlance. Here, he confronts the harsh realities and callousness exhibited by the guards. Through acts of violence, he navigates the treacherous hierarchy among inmates, asserting his dominance over those who try to intimidate him. The prevalent culture of fear leads prisoners to respond to violence with the phrase, “I fell sir,” conveying how the threat of retaliation looms larger than any potential assistance from the staff.

The film contains stark and troubling moments, including a particularly harrowing scene that takes place in the garden shed, where a younger inmate is brutally raped while a guard looks on, seemingly amused. When confronted with the aftermath, the guard’s response, “what’s all this then?” feels deeply ironic given the clear situation unfolding before him. Tragically, the victim, overwhelmed by despair, ultimately takes his own life, an event that ignites a riot and reflects the dire circumstances within the institution.

Amidst this chaos, the narrative introduces another intriguing character—a thoughtful inmate who seeks to challenge the system through non-violent means, though his efforts prove to be equally futile. This film does not heavily rely on a complex plot; rather, it immerses the audience in the lives of its characters and the oppressive environment they inhabit, highlighting themes that resonate across various cultures and countries.

Its bleak portrayal of life within a juvenile offenders prison draws comparisons to Bad Boys, a film featuring Sean Penn that was released around the same time, which, while possessing a somewhat more structured plot, similarly conveys the grim realities faced by young people in such institutions.