The Bill Douglas Trilogy

Who was Bill Douglas? Billed as the “lost genius of U.K. cinema,” the under-heralded Scottish filmmaker (1934-91) helmed a trio of compact, autobiographical features gathered together here for this U.S. debut release. Once viewers get past the thick Scottish accents permeating the films, they will appreciate Douglas' talent for creating gritty Celtic-tinged neorealism. My Childhood (1972) finds young Jamie constantly fighting with his brother Tommy, while an unexpected acquaintance with a German POW adds an outside perspective to his tight-knit world. In My Ain Folk (1973), Jamie and Tommy face uncertain futures when their mother is declared unfit to raise them (the discovery that the boys have separate fathers only complicates their fate). My Way Home (1978) finds Jamie grown up and in the military, where he finally finds maturity with the aid of a fellow serviceman. Douglas' films have a raw, earthy personality that help compensate for the lack of technical finesse and nonprofessional casts. DVD extras include a fine documentary by Andy Kympton-Nye on Douglas' life and career, offering insights about the filmmaker and his place in 1970s British cinema. Recommended. (P. Hall)