Film Reviews

Young Adam

• Rating:
• Director: David Mackenzie
• Starring: Emily Mortimer
• Details: UK / 96 mins / (No Cert).

Based on the Alexander Trocchi novel of the same name, 'Young Adam' is a dark, brooding drama featuring one of McGregor's most vital performances in years. Set in the 1950s Scotland, McGregor plays the narrator Joe, who is living and working on a barge owned by Les (Mullan) and Ella (Swinton). In the opening scenes of the movie, the men fish out the body of a dead woman and although it's clear that Joe knows more about her than he is letting on, it doesn't stop him from pursuing Les' wife and engaging her in a rough sexual affair. Despite his vigour in throwing himself into this illicit relationship, Joe can't shake the memories of his affair with the dead woman and the effect that her death has on him.
Heavily reliant on the flashback device which is neatly complimented by the film's stark, visual style, 'Young Adam' is a claustrophobic, desolate affair. Chief amongst the concerns of director David McKenzie seems to be the themes of dislocation -attested to through the intelligent blend of time frames - alienation and guilt. In terms of performances, McGregor's never been better as the troubled but utterly mercenary Joe, while Swinton and Mullan provide extraordinary support, making his job an awful lot easier. Admittedly, 'Young Adam' makes for extremely bleak viewing, but this austere film reaches its conclusions in a frank, forthright and intelligent fashion.

Review by Garreth Murphy