Search - Song for a Raggy Boy on DVD

Reflexive, penetrating, haunting and mesmerizing movie!

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 08/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Aidan Quinn was magisterial in this poignant story about a children correctional in Ireland 1938. He comes to this singular place ruled namely by a weak director who knows obey and respect the holy world of the Bishop who named to Father John, a true disturbed mind and emotionally castrated: He in the name of preserving the discipline above any other considerations infringes cruel and abusive punishments to this young community, integrated basically by orphans, rebels without cause and twisted behaviors. A real micro cosmos human. Quinn will have to face against this challenge, and searching for the consequences of this terrible conduct he finds the answer; they are hunger for love, consideration and warmth human. He gets from them the best they can, his classes are sealed with the imagination seed and the enthusiasm: there will be serious encounters with Father John and his stupid rules about territory delimitation, censoring in the name of his dogmatic precepts what's right and what's wrong.

But this rotten and hypocrite attitude will reach a dramatic climax. The teacher award them in the Christmas Night and become an unconditional allied when the abuses be perpetrated against their fragile humanity.

Based in real facts, the film also describes through sharp flashbacks the background of this teacher who lost his wife in the Spanish Civil War; he knows about sorrows, but despite about it he owns a noble heart and simply doesn't accept any injustice.

Impressive acting of Iaian Glenn in the role of the satanic and distorted mind Father John. Striking film that will leave you thinking a long time.

This film won the Sundance Film Festival in the category of Women in Cinema Lena Sharpe Award for Persistence in Vision 2003!

"Those who just live thinking about how to make the welfare, have not time to be good human beings."
Rabindranatah Tagore.
Literature Prize Nobel 1915.

"

Sad, tragic, but well-done

jobear | NCalifornia | 10/11/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Aidan is incomparable in his role here; You will love him in this true story. The story is sad, tragic, horrifying. In addition to what was done to the children, it was especially shocking to find out in the end that these evil, abusive priests were not arrested, but were sent elsewhere in the world to possibly, or more likely, probably, do more damage to children. It is beyond me how that could happen. I hope that has all changed. Hopefully, this film has/will open people's eyes and keep them alert to abuses, and, hopefully, this exposure and others have and will continue to put an end to it. On the bright side, there are some wonderful interactions between Aidan's character and the boys that are a delight to watch. It's amazing how the human spirit can still shine when treated with kindness & love. The film is well-done and I recommend it for adults only, of course, though be prepared to be mortified. I am not Catholic, but I do know that this is a terrible, shameful thing done by some, while most true believers of the Church, have done and are doing wonderful things for the downtrodden, poor,& lost, and that they love and bring honor to God. This is an awful, unfortunately, true piece of history spotlighted in this film, but it is not the whole picture of the Church, of course. To balance this true story, watch another true story: Molokai,the story of Father Damien, who went to live amongst the lepers and gave his life for them."

Church unmasked

remy_weszzenaar | sweden | 09/21/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"this movie is one of a kind, because it shows tha bad side of the catholic church.
boys has to be sex slaves from priests and keep their mouth shut.
this movie is to see and think about those we respect as god serves.
song for a raggy boy is the horror our kids has been going through

for century.
"

Suspicious..

Margaret Fuller | Park City, UT USA | 05/03/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I saw this movie at Sundance and then it disappeared. I've always suspected the Catholic Church bought it or in some way had something to do with the distribution. What an incredible film -- best acting Aidan Quinn has ever done."