Liam

This is a heavy, suffocating watch that immerses you in the grim social decay of a troubled time.

Directed by

Stephen Frears

Genres

Drama

Starring

Ian Hart, Claire Hackett, Anthony Borrows

Overview

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.

How it feels

Dark, bleak, tense and cynical. Measured and needs your attention.

About

Class, politics, faith, violence

Content

Strong violence. Mild gore and language. No sexual content.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)