"The Lottery" 1969 Short Film (ENGLISH + PORTUGUESE SUBTITLES)

Summary

In a small town with an unusually gloomy atmosphere, an annual “lottery” ceremony begins with familiar, casual conversation. Residents tease and chat about everyday life—TV dinners, fixing a roof, and complaints about taxes—until officials arrive and the mood shifts instantly.

Officials announce the rules: the heads of families draw slips from a box, with the slips kept folded until everyone has had their turn.

As the drawing continues, the lottery’s cruelty becomes clear when families are called up—including people who are absent, such as Clyde Dunbar, who is missing due to a broken leg. Gossip spreads quickly, and arguments flare between “old-timers” and “young people.” Some residents suggest that others have stopped doing the lottery elsewhere, but the town insists it’s always been done.

Tension peaks when Bill is accused of unfairness. He claims the procedure wasn’t followed correctly because the officials didn’t give him enough time to choose the slip he wanted. Despite the community insisting everyone had the same chance, the argument escalates—yet the process still continues.

In the end, after additional slips are drawn to account for relationships and rule-compliance (including adjustments related to Tessie’s family placement), the final selection falls on Tessie. The short film closes with the crowd rushing to finish quickly, underscored by a final acknowledgment that the ritual has never been fair. The strongest tension comes from the way residents carry out the event with casual, bureaucratic normalcy even as moral outrage and fear intensify—culminating in Tessie’s selection.

Highlights / Notable Moments

• Everyday banter (TV dinners, roof repairs) sharply contrasts with the ritual.
• Mock arguments about fairness, especially Bill’s protest that he wasn’t given enough time to choose a slip—though it changes nothing.
• Absences and rigid rules, shown through missing men (like Clyde Dunbar) and family members being drawn in according to procedure.
• Community pressure to hurry, arriving exactly when emotions are at their highest.
• Tessie’s selection as the chilling final payoff.

Main Personalities (Appearing / Mentioned)

• Joe (official/community leader)
• Tessie (the eventual selected person)
• Bill / Harry / Joe’s associates (drawing and handling the lottery)
• Old Man Warner (longtime participant/authority)
• Various family members, including: Don, Eva, Nancy, Bill Jr, Davy, Clyde Dunbar (absent), Jack, and others referenced during the draws