The little-seen drama "Killer of Sheep" was shot in grainy black and white, using a lot of handheld camera work. And its plot doesn't follow conventional story structure — at times it appears to be a series of connected vignettes.

And if the film resembles anything, it resembles a documentary — or perhaps a docudrama that closely adheres to the documentary style.

Screenwriter/director Charles Burnett shot the film in 1973 as a thesis project at the University of California, Los Angeles, and used some of his relatives and close friends as cast and crew.

Burnett's sympathetic, nonstereotypical portrayal of black characters flew in the face of the broad caricatures featured in the "blaxploitation" films that preceded it. So it's no wonder that the movie was largely ignored when it was originally released in 1977.

That's unfortunate, because his tale about a south central Los Angeles neighborhood is stunning, and it holds up remarkably well. (The National Film Preservation Board even named the film to its registry in 1990.)

The film's title refers to Stan (Henry Gayle Sanders), a married father of two who works in a slaughterhouse. It's a tough job, and he and his family are struggling to make ends meet.

Consequently, Stan is having a tough time resisting the temptation to join with friends who have resorted to petty crime and crackpot schemes. But Stan also wants to set a good example for his children (Angela Burnett and Jack Drummond), and he wants to please his wife (Kaycee Moore).

Most of the cast members are amateurs, and there are a few glitches in the form of awkward performances, as well as some poorly recorded dialogue. But there's no denying that "Killer of Sheep" is a vivid urban portrait. And the slaughterhouse sequences, which are accompanied by classical music, are very well-done.

There is also a lengthy scene in which Stan and a friend attempt to carry an auto engine down a flight of stairs and then transport it ... unsuccessfully. It's frustrating, yet very relatable — albeit uncomfortably humorous.

"Killer of Sheep" is not rated but would probably receive a PG-13 for scenes of violence (animal slaughtering and some roughhousing), scattered strong profanity, slurs based on race and ethnicity, and some sexually suggestive language (slang). Running time: 80 minutes.

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