Sweet Sixteen

Following up my review of Kes, I turn to a Ken Loach film of more recent vintage, 2002's Sweet Sixteen. The title may make it sound like a lark starring Hilary Duff or Selena Gomez, but the "Sweet" is definitely ironic.

Martin Compston stars as Liam, a boy about to turn sixteen. He lives in Scotland, and no longer attends school, but is constantly looking for opportunities. As the film begins he's selling looks at Saturn through a telescope. His mother is in prison, and visits her accompanied by her current boyfriend, Stan, a complete layabout. This guy wants Liam to smuggle her some drugs, not for her to use, but for her to sell to other inmates. Liam refuses, and gets beaten for it.

Liam has a good relationship with his older sister, Chantelle, who has a small son, but Chantelle has given up on their mother. But Liam dreams of them all having a nice life together. He spots a caravan (sort of like a mobile home) that he would like to buy. He and his best friend Pinball steal a stash of drugs from Stan and start selling, making enough money to buy the caravan.

This leads Liam to fun afoul of a local druglord, Tony, but the guy takes him under his wing. He is forced to drop Pinball, who is too emotional and unguarded to be good in the business. Liam is forced to make a decision between loyalty to his friend and to his new boss.

Eventually Liam's mother gets out of prison, and the dream seems to be coming true, but things don't work out the way Liam wants them to. He makes a rash decision, and the film ends with him on a shore, staring into the water. His sister calls him, saying "What a waste," but Liam's final line, both referring to his mobile phone and his life, are, "My battery is running down."

Sweet Sixteen is a fantastic film. Of course it is bleak--there is really no way out for Liam and his kind. They have been cast aside by school and the social framework, and thus turn to selling illicit material to make their way. It is implied that Liam is certainly smart enough to have made a life in legitimate society, but his mother, weak and distracted, failed him miserably. He stills shows remarkable loyalty, and makes a worthy and sympathetic protagonist.

Once again I am grateful for subtitles. If there's anything thicker than a Scottish brogue, I don't what it is.