The Boys of St. Vincent

Name: The Boys of St. Vincent
Duration: 1 h 32 min

John N. Smith

1992 | 1 h 32 min

Also available

campus DVD

Synopsis
Education & Study Guides

This realistic two-part dramatization follows the desperate struggle by young residents of a Roman Catholic orphanage to escape their nightmare of physical and sexual abuse. Their cries for help go unheeded, although a concerned janitor and a no-nonsense cop wage a personal crusade to uncover the terrible truth, and end the suffering. Justice does not come easily, or quickly. For many long years, Church officials, police and high government officials conspire to conceal the truth. For the victims, there is only shame and bitterness. And a deafening silence. Part two picks up the story 15 years later. At last, a government inquiry reopens the case. The victims must come face-to-face with their abusers and relive the awful past yet again. The time for silence has ended.

This film deals with mature subject matter. Viewer discretion is advised

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<iframe src="https://www.nfb.ca/film/boys_of_st_vincent/embed/player/" width="(( width ))" height="(( height ))" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true"></iframe><p style="width:(( width ))px"><a href="https://www.nfb.ca/film/boys_of_st_vincent/" target="_blank"><em>The Boys of St. Vincent</em></a><span>, </span><a href="https://www.nfb.ca/directors/john-n-smith/" title="more films by John N. Smith" target="_blank"><span>John N. Smith</span></a><span>, </span><a href="https://www.nfb.ca" target="_blank">provided by the National Film Board of Canada</a></p>

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Credits

director

John N. Smith
producer

Sam Grana

Claudio Luca
executive producer

Claudio Luca

Colin Neale
associate producer

Nicole de Rochemont
script

Des Walsh

John N. Smith

Sam Grana
photography

Pierre Letarte
sound

Serge Beauchemin
editing

Werner Nold
sound editing

Marcel Pothier
re-recording

Adrian Croll

Hans Peter Strobl
music

Neil Smolar
cast

Brian Dooley

Philip Dinn

Michael Wade

Greg Thomey

Brian Dodd

Ashley Billard

Jeremy Keefe

Jonathan Lewis

Johnny Morina

Alain Goulem

Sam Grana

Maurice Podbrey

Henry Czerny

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I did not see this film when it was originally aired on the CBC in 1992. I first saw parts of it in February, 1995 (if my memory is correct) on Showcase, but recorded it off of A&E. Unfortunately, A&E chose to absolutely eviscerate both films. Almost all scenes depicting sexual and physical violence, nudity, and explicit descriptions thereof, even in the court scenes, were removed or badly altered by the network. As a result, the crimes are implied. In my opinion, it is one of the worst acts of censorship in modern times. Why would a U.S. channel bother to show a film about such a horrifying subject if it chooses to cut the heart out of it? Does anyone know if A&E consulted the NFB and the creators about its decision?
sixam, 15 Dec 2019

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The Boys of St. Vincent

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