It is 2002 and the Spotlight team at the Boston Globe has picked up a story about sexual abuse in the church. The problem is that no-one is willing to talk and the few leads they had led to nowhere. Evidence has been erased and mouths are tightly shut.
The team suddenly smelled a rat and started digging. Led by Walter ‘Robby’ Robinson, they worked tirelessly, scouring every document they can find for even the smallest shred of evidence, facing legal resistance at every turn.
Eventually, they uncover an enormous scandal involving the Catholic Church and the enormous efforts to cover it up. Incensed, they use the power of print to blow the lid off the story and, once the story is out there, they are soon flooded with more names, more cases and more shocking evidence.
Battling against the might of one of the world’s most powerful institutions, the team faces obstacles and constant opposition. How far can they go in the pursuit of truth?
This shocking thriller is based on the true story of the series of sexual abuse cases in Boston’s Catholic archdiocese and the scandal that, once exposed, had an impact that was felt around the world.
This film is directed by Tom McCarthy (The Cobbler) and was chosen for the Out of Competition section at the 2015 Venice International Film Festival.
Featuring an all-star cast including Michael Keaton (Birdman), Rachel McAdams (Southpaw), Mark Ruffalo (Foxcatcher), Stanley Tucci (The Hunger Games), Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan) and John Slattery (Ant-Man), Spotlight is a remarkable story about the scandal that shocked the world.
Adults: £6 / Children: £5 / Friends of Whitby Pavilion: £5 / Family of 4: £20
Running Time: 128mins
Rating: 15
Monday 14 March: 2.30pm
Tuesday 15 March: 7.30pm
Thursday 17 March: 7.30pm