Figure 4.-- This is a very difficult film to watch. Powerful made for TV film about the abuse of boys, both mental and physical, in a Catholic orphanage. This film is reportedly based on actual events, but it is not a documentary. Rather it pieces together events tht took place over time and impacted several differebt children during the 1970s.

This is a very difficult film to watch. Powerful made for TV film about the abuse of boys, both mental and physical, in a Catholic orphanage. This film is reportedly based on actual events, but it is not a documentary. Rather it pieces together events tht took place over time and impacted several differebt children during the 1970s. The film depicts the St. Vincent's Orphanage in Canada, where many boys were subjected to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse by the Catholic brothers who operated the institution. Only slowly did the accounts surface and a police investigation began. There were arttempts to cover up the abuse to prevent the public from learning about it. Both church and political elements were involved. Eventually a scandal developed, both about the abuse and the attempt to cover it up. At the time shen several boys went to the police. The chief of police, political officials, and important clergy divert the investigation so as not to damage the Church. The priests are transferred to other parishes where they reoffend, harming even more children. As with similar incidents in the United States, the primary concern seems to have been to protect the Church rather than the children. Many years later, victims start coming forward as adults making it more difficult to cover up. Finally an inquiry is commissioned to investigate. The film was originally shot as a two part mini-series. The first part centers on the abuse of a newly orphaned boy about 11, Kevin (Johnny Morina). The second part deals with the trial of the orphanage director.

Created: 3:53 AM 9/23/2006
Last updated: 3:53 AM 9/23/2006