'Man Alive' - Tougher Than Punishment. (1973)

Tougher Than Punishment is yet another gritty, well-made, hugely insightful Man Alive programme. They investigate an alternative, uniquely non-punitive methodology that hopefully assists emotionally disturbed young offenders improve themselves. This time, Man Alive take their cameras into Peper Harow Therapeutic community in Godalming, Surrey, candidly interviewing the earnest, plainly committed staff and the not infrequently volatile residents. There's a palpably raw, emotionally wrenching, almost Alan Clarke quality to Tougher Than Punishment, and one would sincerely hope that many of the angry young men were finally able to overcome, or at least contain their demons in adulthood. A truly brilliant, utterly compelling 70s TV documentary, exemplary non-fiction filmmaking, and I was greatly moved by the experience.