Song for a Raggy Boy  (2003)

"Song for a raggy boy" is a sad movie indeed to have to endure sitting through.
This is a Film Board of Ireland presentation in conjunction with production
that is Irish-Danish-Spanish and UK combined.

Latin quote: Errat longe, mea quidem ententia, Qui imperium credat gravius esse
aut stabilius, Vi quod fit quam illud quod amicitia adjungitur translated: - He is 
much in error, in my opinion, who supposes that authority wich is obtained by force 
is firmer or more lasting than that which is acquired by goodwill (instead)

There is some comparison that could be made to the movie Rope (Hitchcock 1948)
in what is the theme of this movie. That "lesser beings" can be targeted for brutal
insane cruelty so as to feed the appetites of the inane. That this can be so with 
impunity - even acquiescence of religious figures who harbour abusers in their 
midst who have no right on our turf in fact - and this is most of all true where 
we are to be concerned for the innocent and vulnerable in our midst - so much 
for Nietzsche's idea of "super-man" (and Hitler too I submit).

If we consider the example of the greatly spirited Irish schoolteacher who
comes as saviour to the children in this movie (appropriately in my view
played by the likes of Mr. Aidan Quinn), then we must accept that it
might just be possible to staff Reformatories and Boarding schools (as
depicted in this movie) with genuinely good and decent folk like him who
have real wisdom to teach and share of what is actually true of what is
really Irish spirited rather than the sadistic and butchering instincts of
his evil opposing character in this story which is based on real events
we are told. 

That all said, the idea of boarding school in the hands of a competent
administration, in full defence of the true humanly Irish spirit, real Christianly
goodness for which we have no equal example in its radiating brilliance
to us all, we cannot be persuaded to "throw the baby out with the bath water"
surely! 

Many children in our part of  the world, may be  in homes that have sadistic or 
otherwise inane parenting situations. There are in fact no doubt a great many 
incompetents who hold and wield too much power over young spirits that are 
fragile enough to be crushed in spirit or even (in a sense) murdered into a
situation of mental deformity as a result - words I choose with care 

I believe that in the end we could actually raise greatest kids that have been 
nourished adequately in all respects with love and care and familial; love 
warmth and acceptance where the right talent is in charge of the situation

I was personally much fortunate in my British boarding school education to have
been blessed with a headmaster who cared enough to read to us few (personally) 
that were the leaders of the individual dormitories in fact. he gave the greatest 
sense of  care that is true of the real spirit of the best of Australians I
believe is so

To these sorts of merited folks from around our very own world I say entrust
the future of our children with glad spirit for the right outcome.

Imagine the power we have potentially to create greatness through proper 
schooling by those with the rightly straight mind to teach human care and genuine 
idealism instead!

Michael Rizzo Chessman
michael@moviesbyrizzo.com