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the boys of st vincent | Year: 1994 Classification: Drama Directed: - John N. Smith Actors/Actresses: - Henry Czerny - Johnny Morina POWERFUL, EMOTIONAL.... After just having viewed the VHS version of this film, I felt compelled to come back to this site and re-read the reviews posted by customers. Overall, I must say that I agree with the majority (particularly the praise for Henry Czerny, who portrays Brother Lavin) of positive recognition. The main things I had a slight problem with, however, were that I felt there were several important unaswered questions and was left wondering if I had missed a 3rd tape. By far, tape 1 of this 2 tape set was the more powerful & emotional of the 2. <BR>Overall, a great movie for those who like true life drama (this is loosely based on actual events) but be forewarned: there are several scenes with (in my opinion) complete unnecessary child nudity. There, to me, was no need for the lingering shots of the young male backsides in the shower and it left me with more than a little bit of uncomfortable feelings and I question the need for those clips.<BR>Excellent acting, great production value, great direction. Fearsome Horror films as such have nothing on the THE BOYS OF ST. VINCENT. Loosely based on the Roman Catholic child molestation scandals as they unfolded in Canada, this 1991 film was first show on Canadian television but later shown theatrically in the United States. Directed by John N. Smith, featuring an extraordinary cast, and boasting an excellent script, the film is one of the most fearsome experiences you could ever endure. The story falls into two parts, first offering a portrait of St. Vincent, a Catholic orphanage for boys, as it existed in the early 1970s; then presenting a portrait of the various characters some fifteen years later as the original accusations of child molestation and abuse result in a high profile court case. The film focuses on a number of characters, but most particularly on Henry Czerny, who begins the film as Brother Lavin of St. Vincent--a truly dangerous pedophile who uses his position to sate his desires while also looking the other way re abuse of children by other Brothers at the orphanage. When the scandal at last breaks around him, it is quickly hushed up by the authorities, and Lavin leaves the church. Some fifteen years later he is a respected businessman, a husband, and the father of two sons when the long-forgotten and covered-up case begins to explode relentlessly in the public eye. The cast is truly amazing here, chief among them Henry Czerny as Lavin, who creates a truly multilayered portrait of a man at once pitful but both vicious and dangerous. Equally amazing are the cast of children and their adult counterparts in the latter half of the film, most particularly Johnny Morina and Sebastian Spence, who play the role of Kevin as a child and an adult respectively. Perhaps the single most impressive accomplishment of the film is the delicate balancing act director Smith achieves, a stance which does not attack the Catholic Church as an institution but which relentlessly exposes the corruption that can exist within it. The film does contain some child nudity, all of it "back shots," and while some may find this in questionable taste it is all carefully filmed and not explotational--and indeed has the effect of further demonstrating the innocence of the children while emphasizing the evil of those who abuse them. Painful as the film it is, I cannot recommend it too strongly. It should be seen by every responsible adult, not simply for the artistry involved in its presentation, but for the warning it offers. A must see. --GFT (Amazon.com Reviewer)-- Priestly Abuse An excellent movie for those interested in the law enforcement aspects of pederasty as practiced and hidden in the hierarchy of the Church. A good look at reality and is a movie to enlighten those who do not believe that this kind of abuse continues today. Used in my criminal justice course entitled Child Abuse, Investigation and Prevention. A Good teaching vehicle for those who wish to stop this most heinous of crimes. Buy The Boys Of St Vincent at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on The Boys Of St Vincent Search with the Priority Search Engine on The Boys Of St Vincent This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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