Review of Sweet Sixteen (2002) by Brian I — 29 Mar 2008

I think I would never go to Scotland the day I wanted to improve my English. (Is this the good conditional?).

Unbelievable, the only thing I can clearly remember of this movie are the names of the dogs (Hairyballs for the dog, Ball-less for the bitch). Three generations of deranged Scotts. What does do the little sensible boy to succeed in life? Does he work as a milk deliverer, like Sean Connery in the 40ies? No he sells cocaine concealing his business with a pizza delivery.

I can justify this dealing. No, no, not because this poor boy is inside a deep shit, a social situation very difficult to understand and impossible to cope. A toothless grandfather who is a little criminal, a mother who is a drug dealer and addicted, a step-father who is a criminal and a violent, a best friend, ginger haired, who is a car thief and an hara-kiri man, a sister who is an unmarried mother of little Calum (please, do not call him Cal). I can justify drug dealing with this simple chauvinist reason: I think Pizza in Scotland are revolting, impossible to eat if you are not freaked out.

The end is poetic: a beginning of redemption. Liam (Martin Compston) escaped from his stepfather home, after having stabbed him to death (or near to death, it is not clear), calls someone in his family, or may be his girlfriend, who tells him that everybody is catching him.

Better end, I have seen the same guy in the film -A guide to recognizing your Saints- killed by street fighters in New York.

The lesson of this film is : even the good people, when they are under pressure, do dangerous things, for them and for the others. Keep away from professional drug dealers, or if you feel particularly merry, steal their car and crash it one into their buildings.