Sweet Sixteen

Theatrical Release Date: 2003 05 16 (USA - Limited)

UPC: 031398100225

Studio: Lions Gate

MPAA Rating: R   Contains:[Violence, Profanity, Drug Content]

Summary: Paul Laverty writes his fourth script with director Ken Loach for the gritty coming-of-age drama Sweet Sixteen. Set in the port city of Greenock, Scotland, local kid Liam (Martin Compston) spends his days trying to make money with his best friend, Pinball (William Ruane). When he refuses to use his imprisoned mother, Jean (Michelle Coulter), as a drug mule, his criminal stepfather, Stan (Gary McCormack), and bitter grandfather, Rab (Tommy McKee), kick him out of the house. He moves in with his levelheaded older sister, Chantelle (Annmarie Fulton), who is a single parent to toddler Callum and has no love for their mother. Liam quickly comes up with the idea to buy a trailer for himself and his mom when she gets out of prison on the day before his 16th birthday. In order to get enough money to make a down payment, he comes up with a plan to steal Stan's drug stash and sell it to local junkies. With Pinball at his side, Liam starts to develop the skills of a successful businessman and gets noticed by a group of big-time dealers. Gang leader Tony (Martin McCardie) sees his potential and makes him an offer, which leads Liam toward the life of crime that he was trying to avoid in the first place. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Category: Drama

Awards: European Film Critics Award - Prix FIPRESCI – European Film Academy Best Film from the European Union – French Academy of Cinema Best Screenplay – Cannes Film Festival

Features: ccDirector commentary
Deleted scenes
16 x 9 widescreen
5.1 Dolby Digital
English and Spanish subtitles

Sweet Sixteen

Format: Digital Video Disc (DVD)

Release Date: 10/07/2003

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1

Runtime: 106 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English

Subtitles: English,Spanish

Chapters: Side #1 --
1. Star Gazers [5:17]
2. Visiting Hours [5:52]
3. Disciplined [4:49]
4. House Rules [5:52]
5. Audio Letter [2:53]
6. A Daft Idea [6:45]
7. Informant [3:15]
8. The Hard Shell [3:29]
9. Home [4:19]
10. Brawl [4:22]
11. Interrogation [6:31]
12. Discussion [2:56]
13. Pizza Delivery [4:01]
14. Privacy Invaded [3:35]
15. Dirty Work [3:40]
16. Up in Flames [3:27]
17. Revenge [3:33]
18. Like a Brother [6:32]
19. Real Deal [2:28]
20. New Start [5:20]
21. Party [4:53]
22. Letting Go [4:19]
23. Confrontation [5:42]
24. End Credits [2:00]

Andrea LeVasseur

Director Ken Loach returns to his native Scotland for the ironically titled drama Sweet Sixteen. In an inspired casting decision, the part of Liam is played by Greenock native Martin Compston, a regular kid who has never acted before. Compston gives Liam enough charm and wit to be convincing as the 15-year-old drug-ring operator, while also maintaining a na?vet? that gets to the heart of the story. What drives the confused adolescent is his hopeful yet totally unrealistic perspective on his family situation; he just happens to possess the slick skills of an entrepreneur to actually do something about it. As the gawky misfit Pinball, William Ruane is a good foil to the determined Liam, as well as a constant reminder of the awkwardness of youth. The other supporting performances help to make the award-winning screenplay sound amazingly naturalistic with both humor and brutality. The Scottish dialect is so accurately captured, in fact, that even most English-speaking audiences require subtitles to decipher the constant slang and profanities. The somber coastal town setting also captures the mood of a crumbling town with few chances of escape. Even though the story is inherently bleak, it's not without the occasional ray of hope. What sets Sweet Sixteen apart from other cinematic forms of teen realism is that it never resorts to sensationalizing the kids or the subject matter. Underneath all the swearing, violence, and criminal intent, Liam is still just a boy. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Cast and Crew: George Fenton  Composer (Music Score) 
Ken Loach  Director 
Rebecca O'Brien  Producer 
Paul Laverty  Screenwriter 
Martin Compston  Actor 
William Ruane  Actor 
Annmarie Fulton  Actor 
Michelle Abercromby  Actor 
Michelle Coulter  Actor 
Gary McCormack  Actor 
Tommy McKee  Actor 

Country: UK