Young Adam (2003)

A young drifter working on a river barge disrupts his employers' lives while hiding the fact that he knows more about a dead woman found in the river than he admits.

Director:

David Mackenzie

Writers:

Alexander Trocchi (novel), David Mackenzie

Stars:

Ewan McGregor, Tilda Swinton, Peter Mullan

7 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ewan McGregor	...	Joe Taylor
Tilda Swinton	...	Ella Gault
Peter Mullan	...	Les Gault
Emily Mortimer	...	Cathie Dimly
Jack McElhone	...	Jim Gault
Therese Bradley	...	Gwen
Ewan Stewart	...	Daniel Gordon
Stuart McQuarrie	...	Bill
Pauline Turner	...	Connie
Alan Cooke	...	Bob M'bussi
Rory McCann	...	Sam
Ian Hanmore	...	Freight Supervisor
Andrew Neil	...	Barman
Arnold Brown	...	Bowler Hat Man
Meg Fraser	...	Stall Woman

Storyline

Joe, a rootless young drifter, finds work on a barge travelling between Glasgow and Edinburgh, owned by Les and his wife Ella. One afternoon they discover the corpse of a young woman floating in the water. Accident? Suicide? Murder? As the police investigate and suspect is arrested, we discover that Joe knows more than he is letting on. Gradually we learn of Joe's past relationship with the dead woman. Meanwhile an unspoken attraction develops between Joe and Ella, heightening the claustrophobic tensions in the confined space of the barge.

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Plot Keywords:

river | barge | drifter | dead woman | coal | 

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Genres:

Drama | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated NC-17 for some explicit sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Picture Classics [us]

Country:

UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 September 2003 (UK)

Also Known As:

El joven Adán

Filming Locations:

Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$50,278 (USA) (16 April 2004)

Gross:

$767,240 (USA) (13 August 2004)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Recorded Picture Company (RPC), Scottish Screen, Film Council

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the first film which Mcgregor did not take his family along for the shoot.

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Goofs

In a wide shot of the skyline of Glasgow from Kelvingrove Park, the Glasgow Tower can be seen on the horizon. The tower wasn't built until 2000.

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Quotes

Joe Taylor: I think she went to a bridge fully dressed and stood there breathing the warm night air. And she took off her jacket and folded it neatly on the ground. And then she unbuttoned her blouse and undid her brassiere and let it drop down on top of the other clothes. And she'd unbutton her skirt and let it slip down over her hips. And then she'd unroll her stockings and hold them out so that they blew in the breeze like penance before she let them float off into the night. And she'd shiver and ask ...
[...]

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Connections

References L'Atalante (1934)

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Soundtracks

"THE GREAT WESTERN ROAD"
Written & Performed by David Byrne
Published by Moldy Fig Music (BMI)

User Reviews

Hail Ewan McGregor!

Okay, this film isn't for everyone. A little dreary, a little bleak, and the love scenes weren't always attractive, but something in the dark simplicity got me.

McGregor is incredibly versatile, I didn't think once of the bohemian poet Christian, or of Obi Wan... he's taken on an unlikeable character with a slow moving plot and pulled it off beautifully.

Tilda Swinton plays the antithesis of a Hollywood seductress, which makes some of the love scenes uncomfortable, but refreshing. The acting, as a whole, is the entire film. The action between characters is subtle and intense, and although I may be biased as an Ewan fan, I thought it was perfect for a dark, rainy night!