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.
Acting
Anthony Borrows' stutter — physically painful to watch.
Direction
Frears' unflinching close-ups that refuse to look away.
Writing
Jimmy McGovern's script: no heroes, only victims and collaborators.
Director
Stephen Frears
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Megan Burns (Teresa) quit acting after this to become a singer; her band sold 1.2 million records. Acting's loss, pop-punk's gain.
The film depicts real 1930s Liverpool fascist rallies led by Oswald Mosley; the city had Britain's largest branch until anti-fascist resistance shut them down.
GB
