The Young One
| La Joven (The Young One) | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Directed by | Luis Buñuel |
| Produced by | George P. Werker and Producciones Olmeca |
| Written by |
Hugo Butler Luis Buñuel Peter Matthiessen |
| Starring |
Zachary Scott Bernie Hamilton Key Meersman |
| Music by | Chucho Zarzosa |
|
Release date
|
1960 18 January 1961 (U.S. release) |
|
Running time
|
95 min. |
| Language | English |
La joven — called The Young One or White Trash in the United States, released as Island of Shame in the United Kingdom — is a 1960 film by the Spanish director Luis Buñuel. Produced in Mexico and shot in English with American actors, La Joven is Buñuel's second and last American film.
The film deals with issues of racism and rape against a complex portrayal of two men, each of whom shows both good and evil. The film was entered into the 1960 Cannes Film Festival, and has received highly positive reviews since release.
The Young One is currently available in both Region 1 and Region 2 DVD editions after being out of distribution for many years.
Based on a short story ("Travelin' Man") by American author Peter Matthiessen, the film tells the story of Traver, a black jazz musician on the run after a white woman has accused him of rape. Such a charge in the South could lead to his being lynched. After stealing a boat to escape, Traver makes his way to an island inhabited by the beekeeper Miller, and Evalyn, the granddaughter of his recently deceased partner.
What follows is a struggle between Traver and Miller over guns, resources and the affections of the young Evalyn, who becomes increasingly fascinated by the clarinet-playing Traver. She is disgusted by Miller's advances toward her each night.
While being pursued late at night, Traver (Bernie Hamilton) steals a boat and ends up on an island off the Carolina coast inhabited by Miller (Zachary Scott), who has owned a bee farm with his recently deceased partner Pee Wee. Pee Wee, a drunk whose liver finally quit, has left behind a teenage granddaughter named Evalyn ("Evvie", played by Key Meersman), whose age is unknown. Miller is cruel to Evvie until one day he pulls back her wild-child hair and notices that she is quite beautiful. Miller plans to have the youngster sexually for himself and goes to shore to buy her gifts.
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Wikipedia