Watch Sweet Sixteen
- R
- 2002
-
7.4 (15,918)
Sweet Sixteen is a gritty, emotional drama film from director Ken Loach, released in 2002. Set in Scotland, the film follows the story of Liam (played by Martin Compston), a sixteen-year-old boy who is trying to start a new life for himself and his family. Liam's mother is in prison and his father is a drug addict, so he is forced to fend for himself and take care of his younger half-sister, Chantelle (Annmarie Fulton).
Liam dreams of a better life for himself and his family, and he hatches a plan to raise enough money to start a new life in a fresh home with his mother upon her release from prison. He plans to do this by selling drugs with his friends, Pinball (William Ruane) and his girlfriend, Suzanne (Michelle Coulter).
As Liam sets out to achieve this goal, he is forced to navigate a complex world of drug dealers, gangs, and corrupt cops, while also dealing with personal tragedies, including a falling out with Pinball and the betrayal of his own family.
Throughout the film, Liam is portrayed as a young man with a good heart who is struggling to make the best of the hand he has been dealt. He is fiercely loyal to his family and friends, but also naive and easily influenced by those around him.
As the story unfolds, Liam's path becomes increasingly fraught with danger, and he is forced to make tough decisions about his future and the well-being of those he cares about. Along the way, he meets a social worker named Jean (played by Michelle Coulter), whom he begins to trust and confide in.
The film is expertly shot and directed, with Loach's signature attention to detail and realistic portrayal of working-class life. The performances are top-notch, particularly from Martin Compston and Michelle Coulter.
Overall, Sweet Sixteen is a powerful, thought-provoking drama that explores the themes of poverty, addiction, and familial love. It will leave viewers emotionally drained but engaged with its difficult subject matter and complex characters.
Sweet Sixteen is a 2002 crime movie. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 86.