Don't Tell (2017 film)

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]

Don't Tell
Theatrical film poster
Directed byTori Garrett
Screenplay byAnne Brooksbank
Ursula Cleary
James Greville
Produced byScott Corfield
StarringJack Thompson
Aden Young
Sara West
Rachel Griffiths
CinematographyMark Wareham
Edited byPeter Carrodus
Music byBryony Marks
Release date
18 May 2017
Running time
110 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish

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

Award Category Subject Result
AACTA Awards
(7th)
Best Adapted Screenplay Anne Brooksbank Nominated
Ursula Cleary Nominated
James Greville Nominated
Best Actress Sara West Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Jack Thompson Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Jacqueline McKenzie Nominated
ADG Award Best Direction in a Feature Film Tori Garrett Nominated
AFCA Awards Best Film Scott Corfield Nominated
Best Screenplay Anne Brooksbank Nominated
Ursula Cleary Nominated
James Greville Nominated
Best Actress Sara West Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Jack Thompson Won
Best Supporting Actress Jacqueline McKenzie Nominated
ASE Award Best Editing in a Feature Film Peter Carrodus Nominated
FCCA Awards Best Screenplay Anne Brooksbank Nominated
Ursula Cleary Nominated
James Greville Nominated
Best Actress Sara West Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Jack Thompson Nominated
Aden Young Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Jacqueline McKenzie Nominated
Newport Beach Film Festival Audience Award for Best Feature Film Won

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. 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 1 August 2023). PMC 6818223. PMID 31983989.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of August 2023 (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. 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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