I watched this film in college, it was either for Film Studies or Media Studies, I knew I had to watch again one day, when I got the opportunity I'm glad I did, directed by Ken Loach (Kes, Cathy Come Home, Carla's Song, Looking for Eric). Basically in the gritty and dismal Scottish town of Greenock, where unemployment is rampant and there is little hope for the youth of the city, Liam (Scotland BAFTA winner Martin Compston) is a typical teenager, causing trouble and absorbing whatever goes on around him. Liam is waiting for the release of his mother Jean (Michelle Coulter), who is serving a prison sentence for a crime that was actually committed by her boyfriend Stan (Gary McCormack), a crude and obnoxious drug pusher, he works alongside Liam's equally rough and foul-mouthed, mean- spirited grandfather Rab. Liam is determined to rescue his mother from Stan and Rab, which means finding a safe haven beyond their reach, he has found a seemingly perfect caravan home, but he needs to raise a lot of money to buy it, not easy for a young man. Liam and his friends, including Pinball (William Ruane), come up with many crazy schemes in order to get money, and cause a lot of trouble along the way, it is only when Liam steals a stash of drugs from his grandfather that he can become a dealer himself and make the money he needs. Liam ends up crossing paths with the wrong people, being beaten up, and the caravan home is burned to the ground, but he gets a lucky break when a businessman who knows about the drug culture offers to help him, offering him a substantial pay, using a pizza delivery business as cover, and finding him a flat for him to rent for him and his mother. It comes to the day of Jean's release, Liam is happy to see her, and very excited to be able to show her the home that he has found them, she is surprised, they celebrate with a pizza party and DJ at the flat. However, Jean cannot help but fall back into the arms of thug Stan, Liam is upset and goes to confront them, she explains that she is grateful but is devoted to Stan, Liam is angered and gets into a fight with Stan, until Liam stabs him in the chest with a knife. In the end, Liam is last seen on the beach, he receives a call from his sister Chantelle (Annmarie Fulton), who reminds him that the day is his 16th birthday, she also mentions that the police are looking for him, and despite everything she still loves him, he walks towards the sea. Also starring Michelle Abercromby as Suzanne, Calum McAlees as Calum, Robert Rennie as Scullion and Martin McCardie as Tony. Compston is a non-professional actor, but is a great choice for the leading character who may be doing wrong, but for the right reasons, it is a simple story about a teenager doing whatever it takes to help himself and his ex-junkie mother, the majority of the film is depressing and hard-hitting, with drug dealing and violence, this and the swearing definitely makes the film worthy of an 18 certificate, but it leaves room for lighter moments, it is suggested you watch this with subtitles, the Scottish accents are very strong, a controversial but worthwhile drama. Good!
Review of Sweet Sixteen
