The retrospective of Charles Burnett's movies starts tonight at the MFA's Remis Auditorium with Killer of Sheep. The movie screens at 8:15 tonight. For a full schedule of the retrospective, which runs through June 17, go to the MFA's website.

Killer of Sheep is one of the first 50 movies to be chosen for the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. It's also one of the 100 Essential Films according to the National Society of Film Critics. Critics have compared it to the Italian classics. And you've probably never seen it or heard of it.

Our brothers and sisters of LAist and Austinist have had the opportunity to watch rare indie classic Killer of Sheep, and now it's our turn.

Filmmaker Charles Burnett, whom you might know from To Sleep With Anger or the Ice Cube vehicle The Glass Shield, started with this unflinching 1977 look at the black working class in Los Angeles. The MFA is honoring his work by screening his short films and some of his earlier work, including My Brother's Wedding and Bless Their Little Hearts.

Obviously, we're most excited about Killer of Sheep. The protagonist, Stan, works in a slaughterhouse, trying to get by for his family. The plot doesn't feature midlife-crisis fireworks, a dramatic breakdown, or a commitment to change. Instead, the movie captures the mood as authentically as any documentary can.

Why should you see this now, as in this week? The movie hasn't been on DVD or VHS because of the soundtrack, and you know how the music industry is when you touch what they deem to be "theirs." (Somebody finally ponied up, and the DVD will be out in the fall.)

Image from LAist.