Young Adam

Directed by David MacKenzie

To 16 OctA faithful adaptation of the eponymous novel by Scottish Beat author Alexander Trocchi, YOUNG ADAM is a dark, sensual and adult tale. Barge owner Les (Mullan) and wife Ella (Swinton) ply the Clyde and the canals between Glasgow and Edinburgh, with hunky young barge worker Joe (McGregor) rounding out a triangular relationship reminiscent of forties noirs. One day Joe spots a woman’s corpse in the water. As the police become involved it emerges that Joe knew the victim more than he is letting on. Mackenzie employs a sparse narrative style fashioned around flashbacks and ellipses, frequently punctuated by unvarnished, at times disturbing sex scenes. Beautifully acted, shot and designed to evoke the claustrophobic, conformist fifties, YOUNG ADAM is set to an original score by David Byrne.

Duration:
93 minutes

Country of origin:
France and Great Britain

Year of production:
2003