Liam

Liam

2001 · 90 min · EN · 6.2 (32 votes)
Dir. Stephen Frears · Starring Ian Hart, Claire Hackett, Anthony Borrows, Dave Hart, Megan Burns, Anne Reid · Music John Murphy
Drama

A morality tale of xenophobia, religious prejudice, mob violence, poverty, and their effect on two children in Liverpool during the Depression. When a shipyard closes, Liam and Teresa's dad loses his job. Liam, who's about 8, making his first Holy Communion, gets a regular dose of fire and brimstone at church. Teresa, about 13, has a job as a maid to the Jewish family that owns the closed shipyard. The lady of that house is having an affair, and Teresa becomes an accomplice. Liam stutters terribly, especially when troubled. Dad comes under the sway of the Fascists, who blame cheap Irish labor and Jewish owners. A Molotov cocktail brings things to a head.

VIBE

A heavy, atmospheric drama that plunges you into the despair of the Depression. It's a raw, unflinching look at prejudice and hardship through the eyes of children, leaving a lingering sense of sorrow.

bleakoppressivesomberheartbreakinggrittyslow-burnkitchen sink realismperiod dramasocial commentaryprejudicelosschildhood traumaeconomic hardshipfaith
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new year's evefascismloss of jobdepression erastutteringcatholicismconfession boothmolotov cocktail
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