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Plot Summary
Ten-year-old Paul (Harry
Eden) looks after his widowed mother, Mel (Molly Parker), and their house.
He discovers that his mother’s ‘medication’ is heroine and that she
is an addict. Paul tries to comprehend the consequences of this and tries
to help his mother get off the drug. He
has to stand up to Mel’s drug-pusher, Lenny, who
wants her and his other punters to stay on the drug. The police are onto
Lenny and want to catch him on a collect. They try to help Mel while Paul
stays with his paternal grandparents…
Review
This
film falls down on the storyline. It
is very hard to believe that when we meet Paul at the beginning of the
story that he has no idea that Mel’s ‘medication’ is suspicious.
Although he is young, it would be hard to miss the little packages
delivered by Lenny, Mel’s addict friends, Mel’s highs, etc. Pure is ridiculously full of
the stereotypical drug-story characters.
However it is interesting
to watch Paul try to help his mother get off the heroine. She instructs
him as to what he must do and also prepares him for what to expect. This
is totally alien to him and he is in turmoil as Mel goes through her
withdrawal symptoms and uses all her intelligence to persuade her son that
she needs her drugs. Paul has inner-strength often found in children that
can be lost growing up.
This is an intense drama
with no light interludes. The interesting aspect of this film is watching
Paul coming to terms with his mother being a junkie and trying to make
sense of this. Suffering seen through the eyes of children is always more
upsetting and grating to watch.
Harry Eden who plays Paul
is very good in this film. Unfortunately, the other child actors are like
soap opera children. Molly Parker who plays Mel is also very good and the
relationship portrayed between her and Paul is excellent.
Keira
Knightley plays Louise a teenage client of Lenny and a friend of young
Paul.
Bottom
Line: An intense drama that could do with some lighter moments and the
stereotypical drug-story characters are predictable.
Reviewed by Niamh Fox, Premier Movie Reviews 2003
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