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Poster for Liam

Liam

2001 · 1h 30m · R Drama
Directed by Stephen Frears

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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.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
70%
Tomatometer
Rotten

Liam is largely devoid of emotion. He's a detached, distanced observer, and it's hard for the viewer not to feel the same way.

Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Fresh

It's been beautifully made with tact and care.

Charles Taylor, Salon.com
Rotten

Too much registers as overly familiar: The Church is an easy scapegoat, and poverty and joblessness are obvious villains.

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald
Fresh

Liam is worth seeing, though, to celebrate a director taking risks when he doesn't have to.

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times
Fresh

One of [Frears'] loveliest, most heartfelt films.

Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle

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