The Devil's Playground

Fred Schepisi's Australian drama from 1976 is a semi-autobiographical quite straightforward movie about the life and growing pains of both Fathers, Brothers and boys at a Roman Catholic boarding school, in 1953. Within Australia, it is considered amongst the top 50 films ever made there.

There are as many personal dilemmas and demons in the Brother's lives as there are in the boy's. Probably more. For someone who is not a Catholic, for me there's always the ever overpowering lecturing on sins of the flesh and such, particularly pertinent with pubescent boys, of course.

However, taking this aside and concentrating on the characters and the individual stories, these are solidly interesting and, thank goodness, the script is suitable for the 15 certificate, so there is no blushing at the natural use of grubby schoolboy banter.

There was also a slightly surprising amount of nudity, the strongest scene of which comes as a dream by one of the Brothers. The acting is uniformly very good, all natural, both boys and adults.

Radio Times said that The Devil's Playground 'takes us no further into the issue than a legion of others have before' and whilst I've far from seen them all, I'd have to agree.

Best bet buying the DVD is the Australian Cinema collection vol 1, a 12 film boxset and that is exactly where I got and saw my copy from.

A fine early example of Fred Schepisi's directing style. The film is more than 20 years old but is still fresh. Some strong acting performances, particularly from Nick Tate and young Simon Burke and Arthur Dignam as the tortured Br Francine. Watch for a cameo performance from Tom Keneally, the author of Schindler's List.

Fred Schepisi's debut film was semi autobiographical in it's narrative and entirely grand in it's vision. It was able to be convincing in it's re-creation of the mid 50's catholic lifestyle disguised as education. Fred Schepisi has gone on to become renowned director and all indications of this were present in this debut.

This film was a subtle masterpiece. It is of the quality of a Scorsese or Kurosawa epic in its eschewing of easy answers to life's major existential questions. The acting, casting and cinematography were all flawless. The evolution of the characters was handled with sensitivity and aplomb. Visually, the film is alluring and its avoidance of easy stereotypes in a way that only enhances its appeal. Some of the sex scenes are potentially divisive yet these too are treated with an abiding humanity. The settings are exquisite and deeply important to the film's lofty philosophical and religious probing. A very sincere and important film that is funny, sad and visually appealing despite some dark subject matter.

I have this film as part of my home video collection and have not seen it in awhile. However, I can remember the feeling of misgiving I felt for these young men who were entering puberty. It brought back memories of my entrance into the same. It brought to mind that those things for which we are regularly exposed to do not cause so much curiosity. These young boys were required to remain sexless without feelings or hormones, just when their bodies were beginning to take off. I kept thinking that it could have helped them if they were taught about the normal body development they could expect, the urges and ideas which may spring to mind. The allowance of the natural arrangement of public showering, with the nudity exposure indicated, but allowance for one's privacy and dignity as the person is comfortable, could also have helped in their adjustment to puberty. Of course, this was a movie, but it is a good lesson to anyone dealing with pubescent kids. Simon Burke was excellent in his portrayal of his character.