Sweet Sixteen Movie Review 2002

Compston is exceptional in his debut role of teenaged Liam, who lives in Greenock, Scotland where unemployment and violence are rampant. Liam's one wish is to buy a trailer he can move his mother Jean (Coulter) into when she's released from prison in time for his 16th birthday. In order to get the money, petty criminal Martin and his friend Pinball (Ruane) steal the heroin stash of Jean's dealer boyfriend Stan (McCormack). Selling it puts the boys in opposition to local gangster Tony (McCardie), who decides to hire Martin himself. Then things go from bad to worse. Film is melancholy, humorous, tender, and subtitled because of the thick Scottish accents.

Distribution

CinemaNow, 4553 Glencoe Ave., Ste. 200, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292, URL: http://www.cinemanow.com, Remarks: Formerly known as Lions Gate Home Entertainment

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 106 minutes.
Originally from British, German, Spanish.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Crime Drama, Teen Angst, Smuggler's Blues, Scotland, Single Parents, Brothers & Sisters

Screenplay

Paul Laverty

Cast

Martin Compston, William Ruane, Annmarie Fulton, Michelle Coulter, Gary McCormack, Martin McCardie, Michelle Abercromby, Tommy McKee

Cinematography

Barry Ackroyd

Director

Ken Loach

Music

George Fenton

Other

Ray Beckett, Jonathan Morris, Fergus Clegg, Carole K. Millar, Martin Johnson

Producer

Rebecca O'Brien, Road Movies, Tornasol Films SA, Alta Films SA, BBC Films, Scottish Screen, Lions Gate Films

Awards

Cannes 2003: Screenplay.