Comedy,Romance,Drama
United States of America
Heaven Help Us is a coming-of-age comedy-drama set in the mid-1960s against the backdrop of a strict Catholic school in Brooklyn. Michael Dunn (played by Andrew McCarthy) is a new student at St. Basil's, where he quickly becomes friends with a group of misfits who are all struggling to navigate the pressures and disciplinary measures of the faculty and priests who run the school.
Michael's group includes Caesar (Malcolm Danare), a hyperactive class clown who is constantly getting into trouble; Rooney (Kevin Dillon), a tough guy with a vulnerable side who is in love with a girl at the local public school; and Williams (Stephen Geoffreys), a socially awkward student who is struggling with his sexuality.
At St. Basil's, the students are subjected to strict discipline and traditions, including the "Brother Constance Test," a humiliating physical exam that is administered by a sadistic monk. The boys try to push back against the system by staging practical jokes and dressing in defiance of the school's dress code.
Along the way, Michael falls in love with Danni (Mary Stuart Masterson), a rebellious girl who attends the local public school. Michael and his friends begin to test the boundaries of their sheltered Catholic upbringing as they explore their newfound freedom and the complexities of relationships and attraction.
The film was directed by Michael Dinner and also stars Donald Sutherland as Brother Thadeus, a strict disciplinarian who clashes with the rebellious students. With its mix of humor, drama, and nostalgia for a bygone era, Heaven Help Us has become a cult classic among fans of coming-of-age films.
