Spotlight marked an Oscar-winning turn for The Cobbler director Thomas McCarthy thanks to its procedural look at how the Boston Globe exposed a spate of sexual abuses in the Catholic church. While the movie was all about fact-checking, however, its distributors have since come out to explain that some aspects were fictionalized.
Specifically, the dialogue of Boston College employee Jack Dunn was completely made up for the film. Since its release, the real-life Dunn has gone on record to say that he was sickened by the film's depiction of him as a man who knew about the abuses and did nothing to stop them.
"This insinuation of being in the know about the biggest scandal in the history of the Church – it was just devastating, because it wasn't true," Dunn told WCVB News. "I got through it because I'm a person of faith."
Spotlight distributors Open Road first denied the allegations that they had lied about Dunn's story, but have since changed their tune. They've now released a statement saying that the filmmakers made up Dunn's dialogue.
Here's their statement in full:
As is the case with most movies based on historical events, Spotlight contains fictionalised dialogue that was attributed to Mr Dunn for dramatic effect. We acknowledge that Mr Dunn was not part of the Archdiocesan cover-up. It is clear from his efforts on behalf of the victims at BC High that he and the film-makers share a deep, mutual concern for victims of abuse.
Thanks to the Guardian for the tip.
Specifically, the dialogue of Boston College employee Jack Dunn was completely made up for the film. Since its release, the real-life Dunn has gone on record to say that he was sickened by the film's depiction of him as a man who knew about the abuses and did nothing to stop them.
"This insinuation of being in the know about the biggest scandal in the history of the Church – it was just devastating, because it wasn't true," Dunn told WCVB News. "I got through it because I'm a person of faith."
Spotlight distributors Open Road first denied the allegations that they had lied about Dunn's story, but have since changed their tune. They've now released a statement saying that the filmmakers made up Dunn's dialogue.
Here's their statement in full:
As is the case with most movies based on historical events, Spotlight contains fictionalised dialogue that was attributed to Mr Dunn for dramatic effect. We acknowledge that Mr Dunn was not part of the Archdiocesan cover-up. It is clear from his efforts on behalf of the victims at BC High that he and the film-makers share a deep, mutual concern for victims of abuse.
Thanks to the Guardian for the tip.