Looks and Smiles (1981)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Walter M

  
  [font=Century Gothic]In "Looks and Smiles," Mick(Graham Green) is unemployed and looking for a job as a mechanic which is his first love while hanging out and dodging the police with his friend, Alan(Tony Pitts). Alan who is on the other side of 18 from Mick enlists in the… More
  [font=Century Gothic]In "Looks and Smiles," Mick(Graham Green) is unemployed and looking for a job as a mechanic which is his first love while hanging out and dodging the police with his friend, Alan(Tony Pitts). Alan who is on the other side of 18 from Mick enlists in the army which Mick's parents(Phil Askham & Pam Darrell) refuse to consent for him. One night at a disco, Mick meets Karen(Carolyn Nicholson), a young woman who works at a shoe store, but before they can make plans, Mick comes to his friend's defense, resulting in their ejection...[/font] [font=Century Gothic]Directed by Ken Loach with his usual flair for naturalism, and as much Karen's story as it is Mick's, "Looks and Smiles" is a sobering look at the youth at the time the film was made in 1981. This generation does not have the same opportunities their parents did and have very little to look forward to. And even the adults are feeling the pinch. About the only option with any promise is the military but with that they have the daunting prospect of being sent to Northern Ireland like Alan does.[/font]