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Song for a Raggy Boy
- Director: Aisling Walsh
- Writer: Aisling Walsh; Kevin Byron Murphy
- Producer: Gillian Berrie; Peter Garde
CGiii Comment
Walsh has come a long way - although she still manages to be a little heavy handed...a little more thought behind the characters' arcs would help her enormously.
The sadism seems to be too indulgent, too in-your-face to be credible. Think: sinister...far more effective.
The sexual abuse is insipid and perpetrated by a snivelling character - now, that's just too easy.Think: sinister...
The priests got away with this abuse simply because the were sly - there is nothing cunning in this film. Think: character development...
Walsh goes for the heartstrings, rather than a recognisable truth - a failing.
Quinn does not disappoint and Glenn revels in his madness - again, further exploration would have solidified his character. Some backstory would have helped.
All said, it is a fine, albeit flawed, film...that is - surprise surprise - based on true events.
Let the Catholic church see these films...they ban them!!!
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
In 1939 William Franklin, an anti-Franco veteran of the bloody Spanish Civil War, arrives as first-ever lay teacher in a strict Catholic Reformatory and Industrial School for wayward boys. He soon learns the academic challenge is formidable, many boys being still illiterate, but gradually earns their trust, respect, in time almost devotion, with 'paternal' kindness, making the layman the opposite of the cruel prefect, brother John, who frequently administers painful and humiliating punishments, even the gentle, old superior Father Damian has no authority against his disciplinary mandate from the grim bishop Conlon. Slowly even class rebel Liam Mercier is turned around, trough his gift for literature. After Franklin dares stop the sadist's penny-weighted strap severely striking 'sinful scum' for a futility, the whole dorm is treated to an icy night outdoors, arms outstretched wearing only shorts.
Cast & Characters
Aidan Quinn as William Franklin;
Iain Glen as Brother John;
Marc Warren as Brother Mac;
Dudley Sutton as Brother Tom;
Alan Devlin as Father Damian;
Stuart Graham as Brother Whelan;
John Travers as Liam Mercier 636;
Chris Newman as Patrick Delaney 743;
Andrew Simpson as Gerard Peters 458;
Mark Butler as Downey 913;
Bernard Manning as Rogers 855;
Samuel Bright as Ryan 126;
Robert Sheehan as O Reilly 58;
Caoimhin 'Tojo' Barra Doherty as Murphy 338;
Michael McGee as Lynch 76