In the ABC of Cinema, we’re going to screen a film by Clint Eastwood – a Western. Eastwood’s film-acting career goes back to the mid-1950s, but he started directing in 1971 with Play Misty for Me. Since then, he has built up a roster of over forty films as director – and often also as producer and star. The Western genre is particularly associated with Eastwood, although he has also directed thrillers, biopics, and at least one romance.

In Unforgiven, Eastwood plays Will Munny, a former killer, now reformed so as to focus on farming and raising a family with his young wife. But his wife has recently died, so to secure his family’s future, Will is persuaded to turn bounty-hunter again. The bounty has been raised by women of the local brothel, one of whom has been severely disfigured in a recent violent attack by two men from out of town. The sheriff (played by Gene Hackman) released the men without trial or punishment, thus leaving the women to find their own route to justice.

At the 1993 Academy Awards, this film won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Eastwood) and Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Hackman).