Sweet Sixteen (2002)

Greenock is just down the road from where I live, in fact there's rivalry bordering on enmity between the town where I work, Paisley and Greenock, where this super-realistic Ken Loach film was made. I can therefore completely identify from first-hand observation, although rarely, thankfully from experience, the young, foul mouthed, ill-mannered, drug-dependant, "neds" (non-educated delinquents), who largely populate the film. In fact, in their tracksuit and trainers garb, they still roam the streets today, usually in a zombie-like, drug-hazed trance.The central character of the film, young Liam and his best-mate Pinball obviously don't go to school and out on the streets, work the margins, both small-time partners, roaming the local pubs selling cigarettes on the fly. Liam's mum is in prison, presumably on drugs-related charges and is due for release soon, but she's in tow with a hardened, petty criminal boy-friend who Liam hates, while also in the family mix is Liam's older sister, a single parent with a young child, who doesn't get on with their mum and bizarrely, a grandfather who's into the same petty crime as the mother's boyfriend. A chance discovery of the boyfriend's drug-stash gives the soon-to-be-sixteen year-old a golden chance to make big money quickly and buy a dream caravan for the family to make a literally clean start but instead leads him into a shady underworld of crime and violence.Everyone lets Liam down in the film, eventually himself too and at the end, we see him in the time-honoured teenage mixed-up confusion traceable all the way back to Mod Jimmy in "Quadrophenia" and of course the original cause-less rebel of James Dean. The language and violence in the film are extreme but trust me, true to life and the little snippets of humour get steadily darker as the film progresses. Liam's progress from early-on comically getting a reversing truck to run over a policeman's motorbike in a gag used before by Woody Allen to the "sting" he falls victim to when required to stab a man to death in an underworld initiation test shows how far he comes / falls in his journey into darkness.Filmed in real locations certainly familiar to me and without his sometime trait of attendant sentimentality, I think this is one of the best Ken Loach films I've seen. The acting by the exclusively Scottish and often first-time actors is mostly convincing, with Compston in particular showing the talent that has deservedly kept him in work ever since, although usually in rather typecast strong, silent parts in movies and on TV. This was a believable, gritty warts-and-all slice of life of a random teenager's nowhere existence in the grey, economic wasteland of latter day West of Scotland. It's grim up north, believe me.

Ken Loach delivers in this well directed powerful drama that shouldn't be watched by the faint of heart. Only adults 18+ should view this (Don't watch if sensitive). In the depressed town of Greenock. A teenager is determined to help his mum get out of prison and lead a normal family life. He lives in a poor district in a poverty stricken home. I'm not a huge fan of Scottish movies, but this one is definitely up there with the very best in Scottish cinema. Liam, the top billed actor in the movie plays as a responsible teenager who lives a tough life and is amidst anarchy and trouble. He mostly enjoys spending time with his friends and causing some trouble himself. There is not much hope for Liams future as a family man and his poor mother in jail. I can't take anything away from this movie, but I would have gave it an 8 or so if there was more humour and hope for Liam & his family. The film is by no means entertaining to watch and for some is a hard dose of reality of life in the rough areas of Scotland. Watch at you're own discretion as there is a persistent, non-stop barrage of swearing and very strong language along with some disturbing scenes of violence and a dark, intense atmosphere throughout.

Another excellent tale of gritty Glasgow from Ken Loach, well told from the eyes of a 16 year old boy trying to get another chance for his imprisoned and heroin addicted mother.The boy, Liam, makes one wrong choice after another although you can hardly blame him. His choices are limited, his environment unfriendly, the role models in his life are bad ones. There isn't a lot of room for him to maneuver, but he does the best he can.You can pretty much see where he is going to end up before you're too far into the film, but that doesn't make the story any less fascinating. You keep hoping he's going to transcend his background and somehow come out on top, even though you know he won't.Fine acting and production, there is nothing about the movie that strikes a false note. It flows well from the first minute to the last.

i really enjoyed this film heartwarming witty down to earth movie i found it very funny great acting by all the actors.Especially the young martin Compton superb acting diffenetly a name to look out for in the future.good title for the film as it portrays the struggle of Liam just before his sixteenth birthday trying to make life better for his mother and him but the harder Liam tries to make things better he seems to get deeper in to trouble.the film reminds me of Saturday night Sunday morning with Avery young Albert finney because of its working background and Albert finney also tries to make life easier but wines up in trouble with his attitude to his family.once again i loved this film plus its a story to get to grips with emothonely.