In 1993 at the Telluride Film Festival, "The Boys of St. Vincent" caused a sensation. Based on actual cases of child abuse by priests, this co-production of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. and the National Film Board of Canada was widely praised. Many of the handful of critics who saw the film put it on their Top 10 lists.
Despite its acclaim, very few people have seen it.
Now cable viewers can see it on the Arts and Entertainment network over two nights -- tomorrow and Monday from 9 to 11 p.m.
Unfortunately, they won't see all of it. A&E; has excised approximately two minutes from the film, cutting a brief scene involving partial nudity and another considered too violent.
"I have not seen what they cut," said producer Claudio Luca, head of the Montreal-based production company, Tele Action, that made "Boys." "If it happened in Canada we would fight it, but I think the Americans are more afraid of the subject matter than we are.
"Besides, A&E; were the only people who wanted it. We got turned down by all the networks because they were frightened by the subject of pedophilia."
"The Boys of St. Vincent" is riveting. While its theme might lend itself to prurience in less-sensitive hands, this three-hour miniseries is as thoughtful as it is tough. Basically, it's a horror movie about the abuse of power and the subjugation of the powerless -- in this case, the children.
"The Boys of St. Vincent" implicates the Roman Catholic hierarchy, the local and provincial governments and the child welfare agency for covering up the crimes of clerics charged with the well-being of children.
How does a film with universally favorable reviews, solid box-office figures in the small venues where it played and excellent word-of-mouth receive no commercial theatrical release and no major network showing?
"We couldn't get a theatrical release from any distributor," said Mr. Luca. "They all backed off even though the film has good reviews and box office. I think they, like the American networks, were afraid."