The Boys of St. Vincent
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 …
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.
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directorJohn N. Smith
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producerSam GranaClaudio Luca
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executive producerClaudio LucaColin Neale
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associate producerNicole de Rochemont
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scriptDes WalshJohn N. SmithSam Grana
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photographyPierre Letarte
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soundSerge Beauchemin
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editingWerner Nold
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sound editingMarcel Pothier
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re-recordingAdrian CrollHans Peter Strobl
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musicNeil Smolar
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castBrian DooleyPhilip DinnMichael WadeGreg ThomeyBrian DoddAshley BillardJeremy KeefeJonathan LewisJohnny MorinaAlain GoulemSam GranaMaurice PodbreyHenry Czerny
Warning: Film contains depictions of sexual and physical abuse of young children.
Mount Cashel Orphanage was the institution that inspired the events in this docudrama. What were the origins of the orphanage? Examine the various civil and criminal court cases that implicated members of the Christian Brothers order for child sexual abuse. Why was there such a failure of institutions in protecting children under state care? What was the fate of the orphaned boys of Mount Cashel Orphanage? What is currently happening with accusations of child sexual abuse against serving members of the Roman Catholic Church around the world?
More educational content
The Boys of St. Vincent, John N. Smith, provided by the National Film Board of Canada