Paul Laverty writes his fourth script with director
Ken Loach for the gritty coming-of-age drama
Sweet Sixteen. Set in the port city of Greenock, Scotland, local kid Liam (
Martin Compston) spends his days trying to make money with his best friend, Pinball (
William Ruane). When he refuses to use his imprisoned mother, Jean (
Michelle Coulter), as a drug mule, his criminal stepfather, Stan (
Gary McCormack), and bitter grandfather, Rab (
Tommy McKee), kick him out of the house. He moves in with his levelheaded older sister, Chantelle (
Annmarie Fulton), who is a single parent to toddler Callum and has no love for their mother. Liam quickly comes up with the idea to buy a trailer for himself and his mom when she gets out of prison on the day before his 16th birthday. In order to get enough money to make a down payment, he comes up with a plan to steal Stan's drug stash and sell it to local junkies. With Pinball at his side, Liam starts to develop the skills of a successful businessman and gets noticed by a group of big-time dealers. Gang leader Tony (
Martin McCardie) sees his potential and makes him an offer, which leads Liam toward the life of crime that he was trying to avoid in the first place. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide