There is a strong sense of documentary about 'Sweet Sixteen'. You can't help feeling that what you're watching being played out on screen is simultaneously being played out on thousands of council estates throughout the country.

The film's director Ken Loach has provided a forum for the issues of social and economic poverty before. His approach in this film is neither ground-breaking nor innovative, but what he does achieve in 'Sweet Sixteen' is something far greater. He actually makes us care. Many, indeed most, may be bored with the issue but the characters surpass the cliche and hold the attention of the audience. They are the 'everyday Joes' of societies' underclass, as recognisable off screen as on. Fortunately, however, they exist not just as symbolic but as well-rounded 3-dimensional characters. Society may well have created thousands upon thousands of 'Liams' but we want this one to be different.

The dreary urbanised setting of a Scottish council estate and the indistinguishable Greenock brogue serve to localise concepts that are essentially universal. The perpetuation of the social cycle is at the heart of the underlying social commentary we have come to expect from L

. If your looking for a light hearted film or a happy ending Hollywood style then 'Sweet Sixteen' is not for you. This is Ken Loach sticking to what he knows best, a bite of socialist-realism with a barrage of expletives justifying its 18 certificate. His genuine interest in the plight of the working classes is communicated well by the sensitive screenplay of Paul Laverty and the performance of his inexperienced cast is remarkable. Much of the film's merit stems from the performance of Compston who in all honesty helps to rescue Loach from the proverbial 'hook', allowing him to defend with justification the calls of predictability and defeatism that will surely ensue a film that is essentially well worth the watch.

'Sweet Sixteen' is littered with humour. Comical yes, but the sort of humour that leaves a bad taste in you mouth. Liam's ingenious idea of using pizza delivery to network drugs sees the rather incongruent image of a customer having a deal of heroin delivered with their medium pepperoni. Funny at face value, disturbing if you venture any deeper.

Loach and his writers offer a visual reasoning behind Liam's demise into crime. Douglas' (Jon Morrison) illegal 'empire' has enabled him the ma

Some common words found in the essay are:
Ken Loach, Danny Boyle's, Liam Compston, Jon Morrison, Paul Laverty, Name Joe', Loach Remaining, 'sweet sixteen', council estates, ken loach, can't help, , paul laverty,
Approximate Word count = 818
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)