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.
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
It's been beautifully made with tact and care.
Too much registers as overly familiar: The Church is an easy scapegoat, and poverty and joblessness are obvious villains.
Liam is worth seeing, though, to celebrate a director taking risks when he doesn't have to.
One of [Frears'] loveliest, most heartfelt films.
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