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Song For a Raggy Boy

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	Topics Song For a Raggy Boy Topic Home *Song For a Raggy Boy* is a 2003 filmFilm Film is a term that encompasses motion pictures as individual projects, as well as the field in general.... directedFilm director A film director is a person who directs the making of a film.... by Aisling Walsh. It is based of the book of the same name by Patrick GalvinPatrick Galvin Summary Patrick Galvin is an Irish writer and poet born in Cork off Barrack Street, a poor part of Cork known for its variety of lo... and is based on true events. Tagline: Four walls. One faith. No identity. Plot The film is set in 1939, on the brink of World War IIWorld War II World War II, or the Second World War, was a worldwide conflict fought between the Allied Powers and the Axis Powers ,... , in the St. Judes Reformatory School, a ruthless IrishIreland Ireland is the third largest island in Europe.... school for boys. Gray, gloomy and ruled by the sadisticSadism and masochism This article is about sadism and masochism as aspects of BDSM.... Brother John, the school prefers punishment to rehabilitation. But new lay teacher William Franklin, fresh from the frontline of the Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War Summary The Spanish Civil War, which lasted from July 17, 1936 to April 1, 1939, was a conflict in which the Nationalists, led by Ge... , fights to liberate the boys from their oppressors. Two young boys have key roles in the film. Patrick Delaney 743 (Chris Newman) arrives at the school aged 13 and a half. He, like all the boys, is allocated a number which the priests use. Franklin, however, always uses the boys' names. Delaney is an attractive boy and he receives the unwelcome attentions of a pedophile priest, Brother Mac, who abusesChild sexual abuse Child sexual abuse is the sexual assault of a minor or, according to the American Psychological Association, sexual activity... him and rapesSodomy Sodomy is a term of biblical origin used to characterize certain sexual acts that were attributed to citizens of ancient Sod... the boy in the school toilets. The boy tells a visiting priest in confessionConfession Confession of sins is an integral part of the Christian faith and practice.... , but nothing is done. The other boy is Liam Mercier 636 (John Travers). Mercier is one of the few boys who can read and write, but is otherwise a hard case. Franklin befriends the boy and interests him in poetry, some of it written by communist sympathisers. Mercier and Franklin both challenge the authority of Brother John - Mercier by trying to stop the vicious beating of two brothers, and Franklin by stepping in and actually stopping the whipping. Brother John loses control and, having tricked Mercier into coming out of class, beats him continuously in front of Brother Mac in the refectory.Franklin is eventually told by Brother Mac that Mercier is in the refectory after which Franklin discovers Merciers dead body.He carries the corpse out of the room. Livid, Franklin attacks Brother John, calling him a murderer.At Merciers funeral Franklin tells the other boys that his death was murder ,before kissing the coffin. After Brothers John and Mac are taken away, Franklin decides he has to leave the school, but is persuaded to stay at the last minute by Delaney reciting a moving poem across the playground. Franklin drops his bags and, in a touching final scene, Delaney runs towards Franklin and jumps up to hug him while all the other boys gather round in love and affection for their saviour. Location The entire film was shot in six weeks in BallyvourneyBallyvourney Ballyvourney a small town to the west of Cork.... , Cork, Ireland. See also List of books portraying paedophilia or sexual abuse of minors List of films portraying paedophilia or sexual abuse of minors External links