Movie Description

The Boys of St. Vincent is a gripping 1992 Canadian drama TV movie directed by John N. Smith. The movie presents a look into child abuse within a Catholic orphanage in Newfoundland during the 1970s. Told in two parts, the film first focuses on the everyday lives of the boys and the horrific abuse they suffer at the hands of the brothers running the institution. The second part, set 15 years later, follows the relentless pursuit of justice by the police and the subsequent trial of the brothers. This film is lauded for its sensitive portrayal of a dark topic and its riveting performances, particularly by Henry Czerny, who plays the main antagonist, Brother Peter Lavin. It is not an easy watch but is a poignant critique of the failures in systems meant to help the most vulnerable.