Winner of many awards...Sweet Sixteen, Ken Loach, 2002.
PLOT SUMMARY
He is waiting for his mother Jean, to be released from prison for a crime his father commited. Once she is out (in 3 months) he plans to find a place to settle down with his mother and his sister Chantelle and her little boy Calum to stay away from the likes of his father and grandad who deal are in the heroin business. But to get to this dream, he needs to find some cash, preferably to buy a nice little caravan on the seafront.
To get to this money Liam ends up in all sorts of trouble with his best friend and becomes involved in the criminal underworld of drug dealing.
He knows its wrong, but wants the best and this is the only way it can happen. Will it all work out by the time he is Sixteen?...
VIEWING NOTES:
Film Title: Sweet Sixteen - ironic title, 1. normally associated with girls 2. name "sweet 16"would come across as a happy moment. the characters and main character is not 'sweet' or in a 'sweet' position.
Location/Settings: West part of Scotland, poor part of estate area, sets the scene, sets the characters and their status of class.
Landscape described by Martin Compson and Ken Loach as being a beautiful view etc, but below this is the area which is given a grotty feel.
Ideology: Class - low class Scottish 'Chavs' - lots of swearing,slang, dress code, accent.
Boys depicted in film as trouble, Girls are trying to do good.
Ken Loach - 'classist' - CERT 18 - they said that was silly to be an 18 as its about youths of around 15-18 years old and it would appeal to them. (way they talk, they all swear the same etc)
Characterisation:
Liam - is troubled but wants good life for mum and sister, hates his dad etc.
Dad - is a drug dealer, beats up Liam for screwing up. Controls Liams mum and Grandad.
Grandad - follows liams dad like a henchman but shows mercy and tells him to stop when Liam is being beaten by his father.
Chantelle - Liams older sister, looks after Liam, tries to guide him, has a kid of her own.
Mum - begins in prison, wants Liam to do well. Cares for her kids but is confused and near end of film we find she wants to stay with Liams dad instead of getting away.
Liams best friend - Strong relationship, fights with him alot, mentioned in film the 'brother relationship'. At end of film seems liek he doesnt care if Liam stabs him, really tries to push him to see hwo far he would go. Hates the man Liam begins working for.
Tony the drug dealer boss - tries to guide Liam into crime, build him up, do his dirty work,
Narrative Structure - point of view
- Like a documentary as such, liams story and we are following him around in a lot of scenes in the way the cinematogrophy is used. (like a 3rd person view)
-use of time: Countdown of mums release from prison, 3 months till Liam's "sweet sixteen"
Genre Features - Natural colour for the filmaking, very natural sounds and happenings, real gritty british realism.
