THE DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND Movie Review

At a Catholic boarding school, adolescent boys are discovering their own sexuality; their confusion and anxiety is matched only by that of their instructors. Fred Schepisi's superb 1976 debut film is—to whip out the old cliche—“controversial,” as films on this subject always are by their very nature. What sets The Devil's Playground apart is the compassion and humor with which Schepisi treats his subjects, not to mention his elegant storytelling abilities. This is the first film by this extraordinary Australian director, but its lack of flashy, show-offiness makes it feel like the creation of someone who's blessedly without the need to call attention to his own style, focusing it instead on his characters. It's a rich and powerful debut. (Look for Schindler's List author Thomas Keneally in the small role of Father Marshall; Keneally went on to write Schepisi's next film, the brilliant The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith.)

NEXT STOP … The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith, The Boys of St. Vincent, Zero for Conduct

1976 107m/C AU Arthur Dignam, Nick Tate, Simon Burke, Charles Frawley, Jonathon Hardy, Gerry Dugan, Thomas Keneally; D: Fred Schepisi; W: Fred Schepisi; C: Ian Baker; M: Bruce Smeaton. Australian Film Institute '76: Best Actor (Tate), Best Actor (Burke), Best Film.