Song for a Raggy Boy *** (2003, Aidan Quinn, Iain Glen, John Travers, Chris Newman, Marc Warren, Dudley Sutton) – Classic Movie Review 7587

The harsh 2003 drama Song for a Raggy Boy stars Aidan Quinn as William Franklin, who lands a teaching job at a bleak and severe Catholic boys’ Reformatory and Industrial School in 1939 Ireland.

Soulful Quinn is first rate in director Aisling Walsh’s grim but expertly handled 2003 true tale of triumph over adversity.

Iain Glen has a field day as the sadistic Father John, Marc Warren and Dudley Sutton are notable as Brother Mac and Brother Tom, while John Travers and Chris Newman score strongly as the bright rebels saved by Quinn’s tuition.

Also in the cast are Alan Devlin, Stuart Graham, Andrew Simpson, Mark Butler, Bernard Manning, Samuel Bright and Robert Sheehan.

It is based on the true story of the teacher’s courageous fight to stand up against the untouchable prefect’s sadistic disciplinary regime and the abuse in the Catholic boys’ Reformatory.

Song for a Raggy Boy is directed by Aisling Walsh, runs 100 minutes, is made by Fantastic, Lolafilms, Zoma, Moviefan, Titian Red Pictures and Subotica, is distributed by Content Film International, is written by Aisling Walsh, Patrick Galvin and Kevin Byron Murphy, is shot by Peter Robertson, is produced by Tristan Lynch, Kevin Byron Murphy, Dominic Wright and John McDonnell, is scored by Richard Blackford and is designed by John Hand.

Aisling Walsh went on to direct Maudie (2016).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7587

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