Australia's dark secret of institutionalist eugenics gets an impressive and heartfelt celluloid airing in this adaptation of Doris Pilkington Garimara's book, a story based around the astonishing real life journey of three young girls, removed from their true Aboriginal families and transplanted to a boarding school/prison to be trained as domestic servants (from whence it was hoped they would quietly blend into white society), and their 1,500 mile trek home with only a rabbit proof fence to gui
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SONG FOR A RAGGY BOY (2004)
Certification15 Our Rating
William Franklin is appointed as a teacher at St Jude's Reformatory School in 1939 and it soon becomes apparent how differently he approaches his work in comparison to the Catholic brothers who make up the rest of the staff, a group of embittered and institutionalised men who do little more than abuse and torment their young pupils. Franklin is increasingly horrified by what he witnesses and becomes determined that he will make a positive difference to the forgotten children in his charge. Song
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THE BROWNING VERSION (1994)
Certification15 Our Rating
Gentle drama in the best British tradition. Classics master Finney is coming to the end of his career at a public boy's school, only to realise that his years of devotion have made absolutely no impression on his young charges, while his wife has been knocking off one of his colleagues. An excellent performance from Finney.
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WATERLAND (1992)
Certification15 Our Rating
Superb adaptation of Graham Swift's novel about growing up in the poverty stricken, primitive, rural Fenland. Irons is peerless as the ageing and troubled history teacher, disillusioned as his students with dry facts and figures, taking them on a field trip though his personal history re-exploring his marriage to his childhood love and the often tragic experiences that befell them. Brilliant and moving.
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