Song for a Raggy Boy

2003 "Four walls. One faith. No identity."
7.5| 1h34m| NA| en| More Info
Released: 19 January 2003 Released
Producted By: Lolafilms
Country: United Kingdom
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

William Franklin is a teacher who was born in Ireland and moved to the United States only to repatriate in 1939 after his leftist political views cause him to lose his job. Franklin becomes the first non-cleric instructor at St. Jude's, a school for wayward boys run by Brother John, who is a firm believer in strong discipline.

Genre

Drama, History

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Director

Aisling Walsh

Production Companies

Lolafilms

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Song for a Raggy Boy Videos and Images

Song for a Raggy Boy Audience Reviews

Alicia I love this movie so much
Scanialara You won't be disappointed!
SoTrumpBelieve Must See Movie...
Jenni Devyn Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.
ninoguapo I watched this movie with tears in my eyes. No other movie until know was able to make me feel such pain – almost physical just from watching the story that unfolds on the screen. With risk to repeat myself I must note that this was probably the hardest movie to watch from all I have seen until the moment.I made few notes when it started – there were about the interesting characters, the song of Libera I noticed – but now I can not really write about that. Shocking, painful, cruel, realistic to the core – I can go on like this for a long time. The fact that "Song for a raggy boy" is based on a true story contributes to the powerful effect this movie has on its viewers.The acting is quite good as well – so good that I felt like I knew some of the characters in person. The young actors were really convincing and I felt Delaney and Mercier almost like my friends. But let me tell you a bit more about the movie – it is set in a reformatory school run by the catholic church – as it often happens the boys who are send there find anything , but help and support – instead they are beaten and abused mentally and physically ( some even sexually ) from the priests. One of them Brother John is in charge of discipline – here is the line with which he tells the new teacher for the kind of job he is expected to do: "The creatures you are going to teach are not to be confused with intelligent human beings." Only this line itself was enough for me to imagine the horrible manner in which the boys are treated. The new teacher however tried to change all that – and as the story unfolds I began to really like him – he was strict, but at the same time caring with the boys he taught. Brother John becomes his enemy almost from the very beginning and after failing to persuade the superior at the institution to dismiss the new teacher he directs his anger to the school pupils. You will have to watch the movie to find out how it all ends … This movie gets 10 out of 10 for me – since it is sure one of the best ones I have ever watched.Similar movies: Sleepers, Dead Poets Society
jerryoleary1 it was really like it i had the misfortune to be in a school with "christian brothers" this film brought all the memories of the beatings back worst than the tali ban . it was really like it i had the misfortune to be in a school with "christian brothers" this film brought all the memories of the beatings back worst than the tali ban . it was really like it i had the misfortune to be in a school with "christian brothers" this film brought all the memories of the beatings back worst than the tali ban . it was really like it i had the misfortune to be in a school with "christian brothers" this film brought all the memories of the beatings back worst than the tali ban .
antoniotierno Watching this movie I had the same feelings I had when "The Magdalene Sisters" was shown at theatres. "Song for a Raggie boy" is based on a true story and tells about the time spent by these boys in a reformatory. Another strong indictment against system basing itself on God, purportedly, another battle between good and evil. Something might have been exaggerated but sadism and perversions are not invented at all, as well as the Catholic Churg hindering rapes and murders. Performances are strong and charming but you remain wordless for the contents. I can recognize everything was displayed in too black and white way but, sweet ending aside, these things really happened and nobody was ever jailed.
KEG1959 A superb movie. Well acted by the whole cast. Based in a Irish young offenders institution at the start of the second world war, though this is only mentioned inpassing. It's horrrific to think that it is based on a true story - thank god we have moved into a more civilizes way of dealing with young offenders. Being a 'true' story the bad guys don't actually seem to get the sort of punishment (one is a child abuser, the other is a sadist)that a fictional film would give them. Similar in style and story feel to 'Sleepers'.Not for the faint hearted - like 'Sleepers' the sexual abuse is not filmed and totally left to the viewers imagination which in many ways is worse. The violence is appropriate but not overly graphic. Similar sort of happy ending but with a sting in the tail. Well worth watching. Highly recommended.