Liam

Story

Synopsis

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

Stephen Frears

Writers

Roxy Spencer, Jimmy McGovern

Language

English

Country

Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy

Release date

23 January 2001

Ensemble

Cast

• 

  Ian Hart

  Dad

• Claire Hackett

  Mum

• Anthony Borrows

  Liam

• 

  Dave Hart

  Con

• 

  Megan Burns

  Teresa

• 

  Anne Reid

  Mrs. Abernathy

• Russell Dixon

  Father Ryan

• 

  Jane Gurnett

  Mrs Samuels

• Gema Loveday

  Jane Samuels

• 

  Julia Deakin

  Aggie

• 

  Andrew Schofield

  Tom

• 

  Martin Hancock

  David