Don't Tell (2017 film)

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Don't Tell
Donttell2017poster.jpg
Theatrical film poster
Directed byTori Garrett
Screenplay by Anne Brooksbank
Ursula Cleary
James Greville
Produced byScott Corfield
Starring Jack Thompson
Aden Young
Sara West
Rachel Griffiths
CinematographyMark Wareham
Edited byPeter Carrodus
Music by Bryony Marks
Release date
  • 18 May 2017 (2017-05-18)
Running time
110 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish

Don't Tell is a May 2017 Australian drama film directed by Tori Garrett and starring Jack Thompson, Aden Young and Sara West. [1] It was based on the 2017 novel of the same name by solicitor Stephen Roche. [2]

Contents

The basis of the film has been paralleled with the film Spotlight , based on the Boston systematic child sexual abuse by a religious institution. The Missy Higgins song "Torchlight" was composed for the film.

Plot synopsis

Don't Tell is based on the true story of Lyndal, a young woman who had been sexually abused at a prestigious private school and, with the help of a determined lawyer, sued the powerful church that denied her abuse for ten years. [3]

Cast

Background

A school boardermaster of a Toowoomba private school was criminally charged in November 1990 with sexual offences involving children. He committed suicide on the day of a court appearance. [4] In the subsequent 2001 civil court case S v Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane [2001] QSC 473, [5] the offending behaviours were accepted by the defendant, and a suicide note not tended, which included the name of the subject victim of this movie. A jury found for the plaintiff.

The civil case was considered to be an important step leading to the 2013–2017 Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. [6] The case also led to the development of the working with children checks government policy across Australia. [4]

Locations

The events centre around the Toowoomba Preparatory School (now known as the Toowoomba Anglican School) with filming around Toowoomba. Some shooting occurred around the Ipswich area, with the historic schoolhouse facade being the National Trust-listed 1888 'Woodlands' at Marburg. [6] Scenes from Picnic Point, Toowoomba were also used.

Reception

Don't Tell was met with positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes it has an approval rating of 80% based on reviews from 10 critics. [7]

Accolades

AwardCategorySubjectResult
AACTA Awards
(7th)		 Best Adapted Screenplay Anne Brooksbank Nominated
Ursula ClearyNominated
James GrevilleNominated
Best Actress Sara West Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Jack Thompson Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Jacqueline McKenzie Nominated
ADG Award Best Direction in a Feature FilmTori GarrettNominated
AFCA Awards Best FilmScott CorfieldNominated
Best ScreenplayAnne BrooksbankNominated
Ursula ClearyNominated
James GrevilleNominated
Best ActressSara WestNominated
Best Supporting ActorJack ThompsonWon
Best Supporting ActressJacqueline McKenzieNominated
ASE Award Best Editing in a Feature FilmPeter CarrodusNominated
FCCA Awards Best ScreenplayAnne BrooksbankNominated
Ursula ClearyNominated
James GrevilleNominated
Best ActressSara WestNominated
Best Supporting ActorJack ThompsonNominated
Aden Young Nominated
Best Supporting ActressJacqueline McKenzieNominated
Newport Beach Film Festival Audience Award for Best Feature FilmWon

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Don't Tell — a gripping courtroom drama". 20 May 2017.
  2. ↑ ROCHE, Stephen (12 May 2017). Don't Tell : Toowoomba Prep: The Case That Broke the Silence on Child Sex Abuse in Australia. Australia: BookPod. p. 278. ISBN   978-0648091400.
  3. ↑ MIKO, Tara (27 February 2016). "Film to tell story that broke silence on child sex abuse". Toowoomba Chronicle newspaper. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  4. 1 2 SCOTT, Russ (4 October 2017). "Don't Tell, directed by Tori Garrett, 2017, 110 mins". Psychiatry, Psychology and Law. 24 (5): 786–791. doi:10.1080/13218719.2017.1374832 (inactive 12 July 2025). PMC   6818223 . PMID   31983989.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)
  5. ↑ "S v Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane [2001] QSC 473". State of Queensland (Supreme Court of Queensland). Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  6. 1 2 GUNDERS, Peter (17 May 2017). "Don't Tell: 'Australia's Spotlight' shines on a dark chapter of institutional cover up of child sexual abuse". Australian Broadcasting Commission. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  7. ↑ "Don't Tell (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes . Archived from the original on 29 December 2017.


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