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Sleepers (1996)

Official Trailer

Plot Summary

Set in the mid-1960's, Sleepers tells the harrowing story of four childhood friends who grow up together in a harsh world ruled by gangsters, corrupt authority figures, and the moral guidance of priests. Innocent and unaware of the darkness surrounding them, the boys share an unbreakable bond—until a single moment changes their lives forever.

After becoming unintentionally involved in a minor act of vandalism, the boys are sentenced to a juvenile detention facility where punishment is brutal and mercy is nonexistent. What follows is a period of systematic abuse that leaves deep psychological scars, shattering their innocence and redefining their understanding of justice, trust, and power.

Years later, the trauma of their youth resurfaces when fate brings them face to face with the men responsible for their suffering. As adults, the friends are forced to confront their past and make choices that blur the line between revenge and justice, loyalty and morality.

Based on a true story, Sleepers is a dark and emotionally charged exploration of lost innocence, institutional corruption, and the lifelong consequences of childhood trauma. Through its layered narrative and somber tone, the film examines how a single mistake can echo across decades—and how the wounds of the past never truly fade.

Cast Biographies