A superbly acted, moving film

Ken Loach brings us yet another slice of gritty realism but this has more of an emotional punch than you may expect.

Liam(Martin Compston) is trying to make enough money to look after his mother when she gets out from prison and help her leave her violent husband. He takes to dealing drugs but soon crosses some local gangsters and has to decide where his loyalties lie.

Loach coaxes effortless performances from his young cast with Martin Compston outstanding in the lead role. He gains our sympathy while he has to make some agonising choices, jeopardising his relationship with his best friend(William Ruane) and his caring sister(Annmarie Fulton).

Loach and writer Paul Laverty portray an unforgiving world where hoping for a better life is an almost futile dream. Things may look bad for Liam as the credits roll, but most viewers will really hope he makes it.