Scum (1979)

Dir. Alan Clarke's remake of his own 1977 BBC Play for Today (also called Scum, but withdrawn by the BBC due to its violent content). It's a hard-hitting drama set inside a British borstal. A youthful Ray Winstone is Carlin, a resident with a reputation that brings as much trouble as it does respect. It's pretty standard stuff for a while, but the second half turns the dial up.
Whereas Carlin's commentary is mostly via fists and blood, a second character, named Archer (Mick Ford), provides a more literate and educated voice. Together, each in their own way cast light on the abusive, violent happenings that were allowed and encouraged within the closed institution.

3½ brutal slips out of 5