Liam (2000)

Director: Stephen Frears Starring: Anne Reid, Ian Hart Genres: UK Premier, Drama Origin: United Kingdom Certificate: MA Languages: English Running Time: 91 min

synopsis

Liam is growing up in an Irish Catholic quarter of Liverpool in the 1930's, the youngest of three. While he is at school trying to rid his seven-year-old head of the wicked thoughts that stand between him and the salvation of his immortal soul, his older brother is working, adding his wage packet to the household funds. Liam idolises his teenage sister Teresa, who does her part cleaning for a wealthy Jewish family. Though money is tight, the family is happy; Liam's mother is caring and devout and his father is a responsible working man, proud to be employed when so many others are not. But when hard times hit the Liverpool docks Liam's father loses his job. Liam watches as his father becomes so embittered and determined to find someone to blame that he joins the local Fascists with tragic consequences. Director Stephen Frears has elicited subtle performances from his cast. Screenwriter Jimmy McGovern has captured a child's-eye view of the depths of the Depression in Liverpool and enriched it with the irony and keyhole detail of a small boy's perspective.