Claudine

John Berry's 1974 film is about a woman raising six children in New York. Claudine works as a maid in wealthy suburban houses and has to hide that she works, because declaring the income would end her welfare payments. The relationship that begins between her and Roop, a garbage collector, is both joyful and troubled; he has children of his own and avoids responsibility. The film shows in detail how the welfare system polices people: the inspector's visit, the counting of the household's possessions and every relationship turning into a matter of accounting. It does this in a comic register and does not present its characters as victims. Diahann Carroll's performance was nominated for an Academy Award and Curtis Mayfield's songs give the film its identity. Who it's for: viewers who like American cinema of the seventies and social comedy. Who it's not for: anyone expecting an ending in which the system improves; the film does not offer one.