The Devil's Playground is a 1976 semi-autobiographical film by Australian director Fred Schepisi. It tells the story of a boy growing up and going to school in a Catholic seminary. Its focus is on the trials of the flesh and the tensions that arise, for both priests and students, from the religious injunction to control one's sexuality.
The year is 1988, and psychiatrist Tom Allen is still recovering from the death of his wife and an ill-fated love affair with Alice. When a boy at the local Catholic school goes missing, questions are asked of many in the community. Two popular clergy members – Father Andrassi and Brother Warner – launch a desperate search to find the missing boy. But the church is also facing internal moral problems, and Tom is called in to counsel a number of the priests dealing with a range of personal issues. As Cardinal Neville prepares to retire, his time in the position is celebrated by state MP Margaret Wallace, but a battle has also begun for the top job in the Sydney archdiocese.
A body is discovered, and a cryptic note suggests the death is not an accident. Father Andrassi becomes a new client of Tom’s. A meeting between Quaid and Brendan causes Quaid to question the secrets being kept within his church.
Quaid decides to commence an investigation of his own into the allegations made by Margaret and Brendan. Brendan infiltrates Tom’s world when he meets his son, David. Elliot becomes the target of new unwanted attention.
Tom takes his concerns to Bishop McNally, and later finds his house has been broken into. A vital clue is found at the school, and another boy goes missing.
Tom discovers his own past is under public scrutiny and his life is being threatened. Bishop Quaid reveals his investigation to Margaret, and Alice learns the truth.
Tom confronts Bishop McNally and threatens to leak his investigation. Margaret, Tom and Quaid attempt to end the Church's corruption, but they could ruin their futures in the process.
