Sweet Sixteen (2002)

96% of critics liked it
(84 reviews)
84% of users liked it
(7,515 ratings)

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… More 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

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 46 min.
Directed By: Ken Loach
Written By: Paul Laverty
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: May 16, 2003 Limited
On DVD: Oct 7, 2003
Studio: Lions Gate Films

Critic Reviews

Bill Muller, Arizona Republic
Using mostly unknown and first-time actors, Loach spins a passable coming-of-age tale, which should please his fans and provides a diversion for the rest of us.
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Despite this film's title, don't expect something light and fluffy.
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle
From its gripping immediacy to its strong cast of unknowns, Sweet Sixteen feels almost like a documentary. Loach and screenwriter Paul Laverty keep an evenhanded focus on harsh truths, and avoid melodrama and grandstanding.
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
A raw movie, but it relies on the natural appeal of its main character and the skill with which Loach creates a thoroughly believable environment.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The movie's performances have a simplicity and accuracy that is always convincing.
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
A beautiful, grim tale.
Andrew Wright, Portland Mercury
Under Loach's deft hand, it feels indisputably real ... An undeniable downer, but hellaciously well acted, brimming with compassion, and relevant in a way that doesn't chafe.
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews
Hollywood has manufactured a number of coming of age films of varying quality, yet it's difficult to think of one that tops this powerful character study
Matt Kelemen, Las Vegas CityLife
You want Liam to succeed. You want a happy ending. You want to try to understand the heavy Scottish accents without reading the subtitles mercifully provided by Loach.
Dan Jardine, Cinemania
Another fine Loach film that refuses to sentimentalize the plight of the poor and disenfranchised. Compston is a real find.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
The story is extremely powerful. This is a very depressing film, but also very well crafted.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Its bleak tale was lightly delivered and filled with a wry Scottish wit and a poignant social realism that rang true.
Sarah Chauncey, Reel.com
Sweet Sixteen is an excellent movie on a number of levels; it's just too bad the DVD is so unsweetened.
David Cornelius, eFilmCritic.com
Sweet Sixteen is a wonderfully bittersweet effort, and one of Loach's best works.
Phil Villarreal, Arizona Daily Star
Loach tends to get a little preachy, but his skill is undeniable. His messages strike harsh and true.
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
There are some terrific performances. Scottish TV star Compston makes Liam quite sympathetic; despite his character's many failings, you want the best for him and his family.
Jeffrey Bruner, Des Moines Register
The combination of its casual violence, its street sense and a loose cinematography makes the film feel like a documentary.

Read all 17 critic reviews

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familiar s

Sweet Sixteen. Sounds like a chick flick (nothing wrong if you like that genre; it's just that I'm not into that kind of movies in general). Now, the title itself is enough to prompt me to click on 'NOT INTERESTED'. (Off topic, but Shakespeare didn't know shit… More
Sweet Sixteen. Sounds like a chick flick (nothing wrong if you like that genre; it's just that I'm not into that kind of movies in general). Now, the title itself is enough to prompt me to click on 'NOT INTERESTED'. (Off topic, but Shakespeare didn't know shit when he coined "What's in name?") But when it came as a recommendation from one of the friends here (by mvieaddict, to be specific), & the review (which I fortunately didn't read fully. She's given away how it ends. I know it's predictable, but still.) mentioned that it's a crime related movie, I was inclined to check it out. And having just watched it, I'm glad I did. It's not 'American History X', but it's close to that. It's relatively realistic & way better than most of the crime dramas I've recently seen. It has some truly great intense moments. It's not a tearjerker, but the way the relations are portrayed is quite touching. It made me care for the protagonist even after knowing that what he's doing is quite unethical. That's where the movie scored for me, because generally I don't get that kind of a feeling for such characters (or the characters I can't relate to). It takes a sneak peek into the life of a boy who wants to lead a sound life with his mom who's currently serving time in jail. But that's not not quite easy. He resorts to crime to make his dreams come true. And pieces start falling in their place for him. But alas... well, you already know what kind of ending you're supposed to expect with this type of movies. I'd not give away what exactly it is, just in case (yep, of late, I've decided not to give out big spoilers as far as possible). The actors were all new faces to me, but everyone performed well. The movie wouldn't have been so effective otherwise. Surely recommended. EDIT: Just because someone asked, I felt I should clarify it once & for all. I mentioned 'American History X' because the movie reminded me of it while watching it. There's not much resemblance between the two. When I said "it's close to that," I meant in terms of greatness, & not plot-wise. So there.
Gordon A

Tragic tale of a boy trying to pull himself and his family out of a grim world but struggling not to get sucked back. Stinging indictment of a class of society whose only goal is survival and morals are cheap. The ending will blow you away.
Daisy M

Ken Loach's movies are known for their intensity of showing the society differences of the British class. I saw that in Bread & Roses, Carla's song and AE fond kiss, but Sweet Sixteen was more dramatic and emotional. Here the director portrayed some sad lives going into… More
Ken Loach's movies are known for their intensity of showing the society differences of the British class. I saw that in Bread & Roses, Carla's song and AE fond kiss, but Sweet Sixteen was more dramatic and emotional. Here the director portrayed some sad lives going into violence and crime and the way he presented the bad situations of these people were just memorable. Liam the lead character, a 15 year old boy who life had treated very hard, was selling heroine cigarettes on the street, who he had stolen from his mother's boyfriend. Liam's older sister Chantelle, who hated her mother,for being a heroine junkie and in prison was a very touching part of the story.The mother, for whom all the effort was done for her to keep her straight, got a nice house from Liam ,which he bought of drugs money.But when she got out prison she remained the disappointment she always was, and gave this movie a dramatic ending.
Sunil J

Such a dark movie but it's good and the acting is good for amateurs.
deb .

I've never heard the "C" word so much in my life! Even so, my heart went out to this 15 yr old Scottish boy in Sweet Sixteen. His mom is due to be released from prison the day before his sixteenth birthday. He's doing everything he can to make a home for his… More
I've never heard the "C" word so much in my life! Even so, my heart went out to this 15 yr old Scottish boy in Sweet Sixteen. His mom is due to be released from prison the day before his sixteenth birthday. He's doing everything he can to make a home for his family. Not much available for a young lad except crime. This movie had me interested until 3/4 the way through...then it disconnected from the audience somewhat.