Say a German filmmaker, born at the start of World War 2, makes a film about a kid just trying to fit in who goes along with it when the more popular boys start torturing a minority student? Would you say that the film is probably about the Nazis? Well, you'd be wrong. It's about everyone. Hey, humanity, be better.

Young Törless is Volker Schlöndorff's 1966 film that is a bit like Lord of the Flies but more honest. It doesn't take being cut off from adults for privileged young men to become monstrous; it can happen anywhere. And it often does.

Listen to this week's Lost in Criterion episode Young Törless via iTunes or LostInCriterion.com, and while you're at it, like us on Facebook or support us on Patreon.