Truly Dreadful Film

Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

One of my all time favorites.

Intense, gripping, stylish and poignant

The film gives an alternative and "non-tourist" view over Glasgow area where drugs, alcohol and violence are daily part of life and struggle through this is impossible without outside support. Autumn grayness accentuates the daily gloom and moments of hope are too brief - and always associated with a "catch". Ken Loach is a gifted director and the plot intensity is excellently exploited, but the script itself is too lopsided to me.As for the actors, Martin Compston as Liam outperforms all the others; he is really great in portraying a soon-to-be 16-years-old "ned" as they say in Scotland. Other characters are too briefly on screen and at times incomprehensible (e.g. Pinball). Sweet Sixteen could be a strong warning film for teens, but due to hard language it is forbidden to minors in most countries... It is no family film anyway.

This film is about a teenage boy in a deprived neighbourhood. His poor family background makes it hard for him to break out and climb up the social ladder."Sweet Sixteen" may have an engaging plot, but I did not get any of it. I understood less than half of the conversations because of the accent. Hence, I was so lost and did not understand what was happening in the film. I read detailed descriptions of the plot, and could not recognise anything. I thought I was watching an entirely different film. The film itself may be too realistic to be interesting. It makes no attempts at nice sets or cinematography. The film feels like it was shot with a hand-held camera. I got so confused by the film, and I felt so disappointed.

This film was a close study film for my AS Film Studies examination, and I have honestly fell in love with it.It sends a striking message towards how the 'not so better off' side of society have to live and perform their day to day routine.Ken Loach is a director who's purpose is to point out these 'bad points' of life and show them in a different light so that everybody can relate and understand that dramatic lifestyle.Martin Compston is amazing as Liam, showing humour, pain, humiliation and above all commitment to his chosen path.I agree completely with Ken Loach's and Paul Laverty's disgust at the film being certified as an 18. I am 17 and can completely relate to the language used by the characters within the story - that is how teens today speak!

I went into this film with no preconceptions about its nature. I was expecting a sort of bittersweet coming-of-age tale judging by the title alone. What i got was a gritty uncompromising tale of growing up in a drug infested section of Scotland. A very intelligent 15yr old youth is determined to reassemble his family upon the emanate return of his incarcerated Mother. He manages, with a certain tragic costs, to assimilate himself into the local crime gang and upon his mother's release from prison he is greeted with somewhat shocking repercussion's that lead to tragic consequences. The film rings true in every sense. We are treated to insights into lower-class Scottish society that maintain an authenticity that is hard to fake. All the performances are deftly handled and the script keeps you hanging on until the end. Overall, a very fine film.