Songs for a Raggy Boy

The true story of a single teacher's courage to stand up against an untouchable prefect's sadistic disciplinary regime and other abuse in a Catholic Reformatory and Industrial School in 1939 Ireland. Father Damian, the principal appoints Franklin, former soldier with the International brigade in the Spanish Civil War, to the school as the only lay teacher, although the Bishop and most of the other Brothers are against it. Franklin’s teaching methods are diametrically opposed to the Brothers’. Franklin tries to build up a relationship based on trust with the boys, discovers their hidden talents and teaches them to read and appreciate poetry.