Liam (2000)

A family falls into poverty during the Depression.

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writer:

Jimmy McGovern

Stars:

Ian Hart, Claire Hackett, Anthony Borrows

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ian Hart	...	Dad
Claire Hackett	...	Mum
Anthony Borrows	...	Liam
David Hart	...	Con
Megan Burns	...	Teresa
Anne Reid	...	Mrs. Abernathy
Russell Dixon	...	Father Ryan
Julia Deakin	...	Auntie Aggie
Andrew Schofield	...	Uncle Tom
Bernadette Shortt	...	Lizzie
David Carey	...	Lizzie's husband
David Knopov	...	Mr. Samuels
Jane Gurnett	...	Mrs. Samuels
Gema Loveday	...	Jane Samuels
Martin Hancock	...	David

Storyline

A morality tale of xenophobia, religious prejudice, mob violence, poverty, and their effect on two children in Liverpool during the Depression. When a shipyard closes, Liam and Teresa's dad loses his job. Liam, who's about 8, making his first Holy Communion, gets a regular dose of fire and brimstone at church. Teresa, about 13, has a job as a maid to the Jewish family that owns the closed shipyard. The lady of that house is having an affair, and Teresa becomes an accomplice. Liam stutters terribly, especially when troubled. Dad comes under the sway of the Fascists, who blame cheap Irish labor and Jewish owners. A Molotov cocktail brings things to a head.

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Plot Keywords:

jewish | poverty | shipyard | fascist | fire | 

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Taglines:

Big Heroes Come In Small Packages.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some nudity and language

Details

Country:

UK Germany France Italy

Language:

English Latin

Release Date:

23 January 2001 (UK)

Also Known As:

Lapsuuden loppu

Filming Locations:

Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$44,399 (USA) (21 September 2001)

Gross:

$1,006,408 (USA) (7 December 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Liam Films, Road Movies Filmproduktion

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"The Merry Ploughboy"
Traditional
Sung by a woman at the New Year's gathering

User Reviews

A sincere unique film with brilliant characters from Antony Burrows(liam) to Gema Loveday(Jane Samuels)

I thought it was a very moving film, really got the viewer involved. Showed understanding and made you feel apart. It has it's good sense of humour, seriousness and reality. The characters were brilliant,I especially enjoyed the little boy who played Liam, (Antony Burrows) and I thought the Jewish Family (The Samuel's) were very good in particular. My favourite and best part of the film, I have to say was at the end, when the daughter at the Jewish House, Jane Samuels (Gema Loveday) takes on her dramatic scene. Overall, I highly recommend 'Liam' and congratulate all those which took part, thank you.