Sweet Sixteen (2002)

Two Geeks and a GIT Classic Movie Reviews

In December of 2024 we received a message from a fellow academic in Scotland! Hugh O'Donnell wrote us and suggested we take a look at two Scottish dramas, both from acclaimed director Ken Loach and writer Paul Laverty! First up, the story of 15-year-old Liam (Martin Compston) in 2002's "Sweet Sixteen!" Liam, his grandfather Rab (Tommy McKae), and his mother's boyfriend Stan (Gary McCormack), are headed to visit her in prison. Liam is counting the days until she's released, but Stan expect Liam to pass her drugs and he refuses to do so. He is beaten by Rab and Stan on the way home and kicked out of his house. He ends up moving in with his sister Chantelle (Annmarie Fulton), who tells Liam he can stay as long as he watches his infant nephew Calum. Liam desperately wants to get his mother away from Stan once she's released, and comes up with a plan to purchase a caravan (a trailer like you'd find in a US trailer park) that's on the water, away from the city. He and his best friend Pinball (William Ruane) steal Stan's stash and go into business for themselves. Unfortunately for them, that's when things start to spin out of control, and Liam's dream for his mother falls into jeopardy. This film catapulted Martin Compston into stardom on both the BBC and Amazon Prime!