Representation of Women in Sweet Sixteen Ken Loach
Sweet Sixteen – Ken Loach (2002)
Representation of women
Jean (mother) seems to be weak and afraid of Stan and this isn’t very good because she isn’t a good role model for Liam, and Liam needs the mother figure and support because of the atmosphere he is exposed to in Scotland.
However Chantelle (sister) seems to come across as a better role model for Liam and more of the mother figure because she is moving on and wants a better life for Liam and her son she’s doing this by studying and getting a job, she also comes across as being the mother figure because she’s regularly cleaning up Liam’s wounds.
Chantelle is a complete contrast to her mum. Chantelle also gives Liam responsibilities which make him feel more wanted and has that little support that he needs in his life.
Suzanne seems to come from a better background, the audience picks up on this because when Suzanne is with Chantelle her mum is always ringing and checking up on her and asking her whereabouts ant his shows a kind of bond between them which is quite lovely. The women in this film overall don’t seem to be respected in my opinion because for example Jean is almost terrorised by Stan, and it shows as if the women don’t have any control and have no power and are just used like sheep.
Setting
The film is set in an ‘urban deprivation’ and social housing estates. This conveys that the people living there are mostly the criminal underclasses, who are most likely to be trapped, and have no means or support to get out and live in a better atmosphere and live a happier life.
We see that gets driven to the prison with Stan and granddad, they go through the countryside and this just contrasts to where Liam lives, there was sense of freedom in the countryside however Liam was trapped in a car and this shows that he is trapped in that criminal lead life, but passing through the countryside can mean that there is an escape BUT it leads to prison therefore this is a big contradiction.
The
Representation of women
Jean (mother) seems to be weak and afraid of Stan and this isn’t very good because she isn’t a good role model for Liam, and Liam needs the mother figure and support because of the atmosphere he is exposed to in Scotland.
However Chantelle (sister) seems to come across as a better role model for Liam and more of the mother figure because she is moving on and wants a better life for Liam and her son she’s doing this by studying and getting a job, she also comes across as being the mother figure because she’s regularly cleaning up Liam’s wounds.
Chantelle is a complete contrast to her mum. Chantelle also gives Liam responsibilities which make him feel more wanted and has that little support that he needs in his life.
Suzanne seems to come from a better background, the audience picks up on this because when Suzanne is with Chantelle her mum is always ringing and checking up on her and asking her whereabouts ant his shows a kind of bond between them which is quite lovely. The women in this film overall don’t seem to be respected in my opinion because for example Jean is almost terrorised by Stan, and it shows as if the women don’t have any control and have no power and are just used like sheep.
Setting
The film is set in an ‘urban deprivation’ and social housing estates. This conveys that the people living there are mostly the criminal underclasses, who are most likely to be trapped, and have no means or support to get out and live in a better atmosphere and live a happier life.
We see that gets driven to the prison with Stan and granddad, they go through the countryside and this just contrasts to where Liam lives, there was sense of freedom in the countryside however Liam was trapped in a car and this shows that he is trapped in that criminal lead life, but passing through the countryside can mean that there is an escape BUT it leads to prison therefore this is a big contradiction.
The
Links: to Bullet Boy (2004) The relationship between Liam and Pinball is almost the same as Ricky and Wisdom, in the ways they act and what they do and the living styles. They come from the same background and setting, all places are dirty and live in an atmosphere that isn’t much worth living for so they all end up in crime. The films show that once you live in a criminal life you are trapped and there is no escape and no entry to freedom. Both Ricky and Liam are shown weapons but don’t accept them however as the film progresses the weapons are used and cause a lot of damage. Chantelle is the mother figure in Sweet Sixteen and both Chantelle and Mev (Ricky’s mum) want the best for their children. However their children don’t seem to accept this life and want to sort other things that they have in mind before settling down and escaping the criminal life. Liam seems to be more the family guy type than Ricky whereas Ricky just says he wants to but he doesn’t do anything about it, he just wants everything to fall into place but life isn’t as easy as he makes it out to be!