The Devil's Playground

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Jason M When I was growing up, our family was a great supporter of Australian films, and we saw many of them. When writing my partial memoir, released in 2023, there is a section around my sexual development as a 14-year-old, where in part I am sitting next to my father in a theatre watching this extraordinary film, not long after an abysmal experience with my parents, predominately my father, a few months earlier. There were so many parts where I had to squirm not to be obvious how I reacted to the film (in a very positive way). Afterwards, it drove my father to ask me some very embarrassing questions standing up as we watched the credits roll at the end. When people who have read the book provide comments to me, this is one of the regularly mentioned sections. Their empathy towards me goes into overload, and so do their tears for many. The impact of this film is branded onto my brain. It is a crucial part of Australian history. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend you watch it. It is safe for teenagers, and in these more modern times of sexual awareness and understanding, it could be used as the basis of some very well-intentioned discussions with teen kids on the issues and challenges of growing up, sexuality, and all things about life. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/08/25 Full Review Audience Member One of the most successful Australian films to come out of the early 1970s This takes place at an all boys Roman Catholic school where growing up, hormones, and teenage lust start to take over in 1953 This handles the trials of the flesh and the tensions that arise, for both Brothers and students, from the religious injunction to control one's sexuality I didn't really grasp onto anything in this Wasn't a single character to care about since they keep cutting away every few minutes Who's the lead? What's to truly take away from this? Eh, some might enjoy this more than others Rated 1.5/5 Stars •  Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Already controversial with the choice of the title, Fred Schepisi's directorial debut extends uncomfortably intimate vignettes of sexual frustration and spiritual doubts of brothers and students in an Australian Roman Catholic seminary. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member It is about the world's largest cult,the Catholic church Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member takes a look at drama in a catholic boarding school. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member A group of boys in a seminary school as well as their teachers and superior struggle with sexual awakening and worldly desires. I thought it was going to be darker than it ended up being. Though it has serious undertones and themes, there are moments of humor and light-heartedness in it as well. It avoids being too sensationalistic and handles its very sensitive themes very tastefully and intelligently without hitting you over the head with it so much. Great performances too. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Devil's Playground

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