The Young One

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.

Synopsis

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.