Themes: Death of a Partner, Down on Their Luck, Drug Addiction
Main Cast: Molly Parker, David Wenham, Harry Eden, Geraldine McEwan, Keira Knightley
Release Year: 2002
Country: UK
Run Time: 96 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
After forays into period war drama (Regeneration) and globe-trotting bohemia (Hideous Kinky), Scottish director Gillies MacKinnon returns to social realist melodrama with this tale of a ten-year-old desperately trying to parent his heroin-addicted mother. Pure revolves around Paul (Harry Eden), a young boy who finds his life torn apart after the untimely demise of his father. Despondent in the wake of her husband's death, Paul's mother, Mel (Molly Parker), turns to a less-than-reputable old friend for consolation: Lenny (David Wenham), a long-time acquaintance of her husband's who also happens to be the main drug dealer in their West London neighborhood. Lenny divides his time between Mel and his other customers, including Louise (Keira Knightley), a pregnant, crack-addicted waitress. Paul is so accustomed to his mother's addiction that it doesn't occur to him that it's a problem, but as Mel's behavior grows more and more unstable -- and as local police start investigating the area drug scene -- Paul realizes that it's his responsibility to take care of himself and his younger brother. Pure premiered at the 2002 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
Kate Ashfield - Helen; Gary Lewis - Det. Insp. French; Marsha Thomason - Vicki; Karl Johnson - Granddad; Nitin Chandra Ganatra - Abu; Levi Hayes - Jack; Vinni Hunter - Lee
Credit
Cristina Casali - Art Director, Chloe Emmerson - Casting, Kate Carin - Costume Designer, Stephen Woolfenden - First Assistant Director, Gillies MacKinnon - Director, Pia Di Ciaula - Editor, Keith Hayley - Executive Producer, Stephen Garrett - Executive Producer, Jane Featherstone - Executive Producer, Robert Bevan - Executive Producer, Charlie Savill - Executive Producer, Amanda Coombes - Executive Producer, Amit Barooah - Executive Producer, Jane Robertson - Line Producer, Nitin Sawhney - Composer (Music Score), Jon Henson - Production Designer, John DeBorman - Cinematographer, Howard Burch - Producer, Colin Nicolson - Sound/Sound Designer, Alison Hume - Screenwriter
Following the death of her husband, 10-year-old Paul's mother Mel (Parker) comes to rely on an old friend, Lenny (Wenham), who is also a pimp and dealer. Soon Paul (Eden) must take care of both his mother and his younger brother. When Mel's friend and fellow user dies, Paul must confront the fear that has been gathering in the pit of his stomach: having lost his father, his mother too may abandon him. Even with his limitations as a child, he takes action to stop this from happening. As this is happening, Paul befriends a pregnant Louise (Knightley), an older girl who is also a drug addict.
