Sweet Sixteen (2002)

Determined to have a normal family life once his mother gets out of prison, a Scottish teenager from a tough background sets out to raise the money for a home.

Director:

Ken Loach

Writer:

Paul Laverty (screenplay)

Stars:

Martin Compston, Michelle Coulter, Annmarie Fulton

10 wins & 16 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Martin Compston	...	Liam
William Ruane	...	Pinball
Annmarie Fulton	...	Chantelle
Michelle Abercromby	...	Suzanne
Michelle Coulter	...	Jean
Gary McCormack	...	Stan
Tommy McKee	...	Rab
Calum McAlees	...	Calum
Robert Rennie	...	Scullion
Martin McCardie	...	Tony
Robert Harrison	...	Tony's gang
George McNeilage	...	Tony's gang
Rikki Traynor	...	Tony's gang
Jon Morrison	...	Douglas
Junior Walker	...	Night-time

Storyline

Liam is a young, restless teen struggling to realize his dream in the gritty and dismal streets of Greenock, where unemployment is rampant and little hope is available to the city's youth. He is waiting for the release of his mother, Jean, from prison where she is completing a prison term for a crime that her boyfriend actually committed. Her boyfriend, Stan, is a crude and obnoxious drug pusher is partnered by Liam's equally rough and foul-mouthed, mean-spirited grandfather. Liam is determined to rescue his mother from both of them, which means creating a safe haven beyond their reach. But first he's got to raise the cash--no small feat for a young man. It's not long before Liam and his pals' crazy schemes lead them into all sorts of trouble. Finding himself dangerously out of his depth, Liam knows he should walk away. Only this time, he just can't let go.

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Plot Keywords:

prison | drug dealing | trailer home | teenage boy | smuggling | 

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Taglines:

It's you and Liam, against the world.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive strong language, drug content and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Lions Gate Films [United States]

Country:

UK Germany Spain

Language:

English Scots

Release Date:

4 October 2002 (UK)

Also Known As:

Afili delikanli

Filming Locations:

Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£144,388 (United Kingdom), 6 October 2002, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$26,667, 18 May 2003, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$31,538, 28 August 2016

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was shot in sequence.

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Connections

References The 400 Blows (1959)

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Soundtracks

You Stole the Sun from my Heart
Written by James Dean Bradfield (as Bradfield), Nicky Wire (as Jones), Sean Moore (as Moore)
Performed by Manic Street Preachers
Published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Licensed courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd (P) 1998

User Reviews

A slice of bitter Glasgow life

A typically excellent Ken Loach dramatic testament to the plight of the common man, "Sweet Sixteen" brings the forces of adversity and the futility of naive courage into bold relief with this hopeful examination of one boy's struggle to make a better life for himself and his loser mother. Don't look for a happy ending to this dreary, drab but compelling drama which could easily be labeled a "downer". Recommended only for realists into foreign films. (B+)

Note - This film does have English subtitles making it more user friendly for those who find the thick Scot dialect difficult to understand.