LIAM

Year: 2000
USA: Lions Gate Films
UK: Artificial Eye
Cast: Ian Hart, Claire Hackett, Anthony Borrows, Megan Burns, Anne Reid, David Hart, Russell Dixon, Julia Deakin, Andrew Schofield, Bernadette Shortt, Tim Baker, Joshua Cox, Thomas Hopkins, David Carey, David Knopov, Jane Gurnett, Gema Loveday, Martin Hancock
Director: Stephen Frears
Countries: UK / Germany / France
USA & UK: 90 mins
USA Rated: R for some nudity and language
UK Certificate: 15 contains infrequent strong language and horror
USA Release Date: 5 October 2001 (Limited Release)
USA Release Date: 21 September 2001 (Limited Release - Los Angeles and New York)
UK Release Date: 23 February 2001

Synopsis

LIAM, a period drama, set in Liverpool, England in the 1930s, is the story of a seven year old boy called Liam (Anthony Borrows) and his family. His father (Ian Hart) works locally at the dockyards, his sister Theresa (Megan Burns) works in the household of a local wealthy Jewish family and their mother (Claire Hackett) is a religious, house proud, wife and mother.

The movie depicting life in Britain through the eyes of Liam, shows his family life and the increasing hardship on the family when his father is laid off work as the Depression bites, as well as the increasing political activities of the 'Fascist blackshirts', in line with the rise in Fascism in Europe.

Directed by Stephen Frears (HIGH FIDELITY) with a screenplay by Jimmy McGovern adapted from the novel 'The Back Crack Boy' by Joseph McKeown, Megan Burns won Best Actress award at the Venice Film Festival for her role in LIAM.