Felizes Dezesseis

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.

From the opening scenes to the closing credits it was wonderful the acting the storyline the direction were wonderful, if this dosent move you nothing will, young Liam and Chantelles scene in the flat was so powerfull,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,a fantastic must see film

The kind of film I usually intend to see but don't end up seeing. In this case I did see it and was handsomely rewarded. I expected it to be a little on the depressing side but found it strangely uplifting. Perhaps because you realise that you don't have it so bad after all. Perhaps because it was extremely tight - with no needless scenes. I half expected the protag's relationship with the girl to result in a teenage sex scene. But it didn't and there's no way it would have fitted in with the film's race towards it's inevitable conclusion. Inevitable but not exactly predictable either. Stunning.

It doesn't get any more nakedly gritty than this. This is a movie for

anyone who thinks that kids who grow up to be drug addicts and

drug users have only themselves to blame. What's particularly

disturbing is how the biggest antagonists for Liam, and his friend

Pinball are not people their own age, but rather adults. Some

scenes are very unnerving and hard to watch simply because the

hazing and degradation that the fifteen-year-old characters endure

is at the hands of people who behave like insecure playground

bullies, but are members of a powerful organized crime force.

Even though I'm pretty close to the age of the main character, I can

barely imagine what the nightmarish experiences he endures

must be like.

The movie is emotionally devastating nearly all the way though. It's

moments of levity are welcome, but few. There's points where it

seems as though everything will turn out alright, but then

something else happens that throws everything off-course. For a

relaxing and enjoyable time, this is not a movie to see. But if you're

looking for something that will move you, shock you and really

make you think (and appreciate your own situation) than Sweet

Sixteen is the one too see.

10/10

I saw this film at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival. A completely charming mix of hope and despair set in Greenock, a troubled suburb of Glasgow. Fifteen-year old Liam spends his time trying to scrounge enough money to buy a caravan (trailer) for his mom and him to live in when she's released from prison. He needs money fast, and decides to cut in on his mom's boyfriend's heroin trade. Of course, he's soon in way over his head. Among the rest of the non-professional cast, Martin Compston's performance floored me. He captures that period between childhood and adulthood with just the right mix of emotions. He was sitting in the seat right behind me and when the film was over, I turned to him, speechless, and just shook his hand.