Loach has a seriously serious good film

Sweet Sixteen

Director: Ken Loach

Cast: Martin Compston, William Ruane, Annmarie Fulton

Cert: 18.

Loach is one of Britain's most innovative and single-minded movie-makers, a regular award-winner (Cannes loves his work) and uncompromisingly socialist observer of the human condition ... but you do have to admit his films are not exactly of the comedy genre.

Loach is a very serious man, much given to the darker corners of life.

Here, Loach uses his customary habit of having non-professional actors in his cast (Compson is, indeed, a teenage professional footballer ... Vinny beware!).

Loach takes us into the world of a bright young Scot trying to escape his depressing and violent world.

It is a world of little hope, little light ... and many drugs and broken dreams.

It is what we expect from Loach ... I wonder what he'd do with a big, bright, colourful, musical-comedy!

Star Rating: **