Song for a Raggy Boy

This Irish/Spanish/Danish/British production, along others like The Magdalen Sisters (2002) or Philomena (2013), tells us of the horrible events, along the 40's to 70's, that were happening within the walls of schools, convents and churches all over Ireland against defenseless children of both sexes and the impunity of those perpetrators. The acting is very good, although the characters are too much in a black and white presentation. Also the direction and editing leave some scenes with more context to explain and some exaggerations of the physical cruelty and less of the continuing brainwashing by the part of priests, brothers, teachers, authorities and media of the time. Some inconsistencies also apply: no kids were allowed in the private rooms of their teachers and in most boarding schools the daily Mass and Holy Rosary were mandatory. It lacks a more presence of Irish Republican symbols like the flag, the 1916 Rising Proclamation, portraits of Irish heroes or at least of the president at that time, Douglas Hyde, that were everywhere present in schools. The Republican State and the Catholic Church were close allies in that period of time, as opposed to the British Crown and the Anglican Church that were dominant up to 1922. That alliance made the clerical, political and policial authorities work together to grant impunity to those criminals, in order not to tarnish the public image of that religious institution that was helping to reinforce the Irishness of the Republic. Do I recommend watching this film? Yes, but don't expect much more than topics and good acting.

I cannot believe some of the negative comments about this film. The acting is strong from the whole cast, including the children and that is a rarity these days. It touches on the awful side of Irish Catholic reform schools and the brutality and abuse depicted here is authentic and true, based on accounts and evidence which has come to light in recent years. It is emotional at times and hard to take but this is a superb film and its comparisons with films such as Dead Poet's are justified. 9 out of 10, not quite perfect but very close. The acting is brilliant and Iain Glenn and Aidann Quinn stand out as do the two main boys in the story. You may be shocked and appalled by some of the scenes but it is worth watching and was one of the best films of 2003.

An outstanding film from Ireland that is playing to strongly moved and even angry audiences in many parts of Europe as well as competing at the box office in its own territory favourably with such more obviously commercial movies as Intermission and Veronica Guerin. It has won either jury or audience awards at Ghent, Copenhagen, Cherbourg and Slovenia festivals. It tackles the tough and difficult-to-film subject of child abuse and manages to uplift your emotions before devestating and dashing them. All the performances, particularly those from Iain Glen as the sadist priest Brother John and from John Travers as the lead boy Mercier are outstanding and achieving widespread recognition, and many people think this is Aidan Quinn's best role ever. Skillfully and humanely handled by director Aisling Walsh, the film has more conviction than others in its family of films such as The Magdalene Sisters or Conspiracy of Silence and deserves to be seen anywhere it hasn't yet received a distribution. Anyone still interested in honest, highly moving drama or anyone whose youth was not a bed of roses will appreciate this film. An unusual film in that, just possibly, men may cry at it.

Saw this at Tribeca Film Festival and was genuinely moved by the power and passion of the story, the acting and above all the directing. The filmmakers took care to show each person as a combination of good and bad.The casting of the kids was outright fabulous. Aidan Quinn was born to play this part and brings to his acting a deepfelt conviction of righting certain wrongs with tremendous power and feeling.

A great film made brilliant by the sheer power of acting. I have never experienced anything quite like it. We have here a film, a story, so convincingly told that something inside me wishes it were not true and that the abuse of authority that this film exposes does not still exist in the political and religious leaders of toady. The story is that of Franklin, a teacher in an Irish reformatory school who takes up the cause of the ill treated and neglected children being brutalised by Brother John, a rising star in the catholic church hierarchy, with the tacit approval of the other brothers, each labouring over their own guilty secrets. Of course the story is a harrowing one, and does not spare the viewers feelings, at times I wondered why I was putting myself through this gruelling history lesson, but than I knew, that guiding me through the film, like a guardian angel, is the consumate acting of absoutly all the cast. I knew they would see me through. Aidan Quinn and Iain Glen are magnificently convincing both giving the best perfprmances of their careers to date. The young boys are all wonderful in their roles. Their acting is pure realism, such mature performances from young teenagers are a glowing tribute to the directing of Aisling Walsh