Exoticalot People are voting emotionally.

SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

KexUK I saw this film for the first time perhaps 8 or 9 years ago. I saw it only once. I have never dared revisit this film since then for it so horrified me. Now, in the light of the constant barrage of evidence about the systematic abuse of children within Church organisations I have felt able to revisit the film if only to confirm the trend of the religious org to deal with these issues in a less than satisfactory manner. It is still as horrifying as the first time I saw it! It makes me so angry that such things could be done to children and worse, it makes me so totally infuriated that it can be done under the guise of a religion.The film is a fluent portrayal of differing perceptions and values that clash. Sometimes the clash is full of tortured moralities, other times it is a story of tortured love.Seething below the surface there is always a brooding and perverted sexuality with some of the characters.That my original viewing barred me from watching it again for so many years is a phenomenal tribute to the acting,direction, script and overall excellence of the film. I was there. I saw with my own eyes and what I saw continues to haunt me.There has been no exorcism with this second viewing.Except to say that there remains within this film, hidden yet fearless in the horrors,a great and beautiful truth that is the antithesis of that which surrounds it.Watch this film at your own risk. But watch it.It will change your life.

Rich Wright In the vein of Dead Poet's Society, we have another inspirational teacher turning up at a staid, formal school in Ireland and transforming the lives of the pupils with his vim and vigour. Only these lads have more problems than most... for a start, they're thought of as little more than animals to be abused and beaten, and there's a bible bashing priest there who'll stop at nothing to show this modern educator and his 'new age' methods the door. Let battle commence...This is quite episodic in content, as we lurch from the boys learning to read and appreciate poetry for the first time, to the nice tutor's various encounters with the psychotic clergyman... which usually revolve round his attempts to stop the holy man from beating the kids black and blue with a strap for mild infractions. To all intents and purposes, misbehaving in Ireland was not a good idea, lest you end up in one of these religious hellholes. (See also: The Magdalene Sisters).Like the mad priest's belt, it certainly leaves an impact as you see these youngsters come out of their shells and start to make progress away from a restricted regime, but the formula which has been done to death as mentioned and this particular movie doesn't really add much more to the table. Even the 'surprise' tragedy can be predicted long before the end. Still, it does have a fair few moving moments, and the suffering these youths endure show that no matter how hard my life was at boarding school, it certainly doesn't compare to this cruelty... 6/10

Andrew Towne Everything about this movie is wonderful if you can handle the grim subject matter. The musical score is superb, the cinematography excellent, the writing intelligent, and the acting faultless.I was expecting the subject matter to be exploited, but it wasn't. At the same time, no punches were pulled.Everyone involved in this project deserves high praise, and my only complaint is that here is yet another great movie ignored by the mainstream.I am happy to say that this movie is heart-warming at the end -- in spite of the tragedy that takes place, and the fact that the wrongdoers do not receive the punishment they so richly deserve.Anyone concerned about the injustices and hardships visited upon innocent and defenseless children should see this movie, which is based on historical fact.

annahelm While i lived in Ireland, a friend and i went to the movies in Cork and saw "A song for a Raggy boy" i never thought i would like the movie. But guess what, it was one of the best movies i ever seen. It really touched me, I cried and felt so much for the movie. Its one of the best movies i have ever seen, and i have seen much! Now after seeing this movie i cant help but thinking of another movie that resebels this one, well not so much resembles but made me fell the same, its "Schindler's list". Both movies is based on a true story and about a man that tries to change or change others. Both these movies have an effect to make people understand how we work, and it is scary that we, as a well developed of species, act like brutal animals. Its scary to see. just as you can see it in Mel Gibson's movies "The passion of the Christ". We are not and have never been a nice species. we are just as bad as any other. But for you who want to see a movie that touches and makes you see something else then the classical Hollywood movies, see this one.