Young Adam

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Young Adam ★★★½ 2003 (NC-17)

Writer/director Mackenzie uses the grim backdrop of 1950s Scotland for the richly dark character drama of his second feature. McGregor is Joe, a sexually charged but emotionally and morally devoid transient who finds work, room, and board on a barge owned by Les (Mullan) and his wife Ella (Swinton) who share a loveless marriage. When the body of a young woman washes up and is fished out by the barge-dwellers it sets off various reactions in all three. Joe seduces Ella under the nose of the emotionally repressed Les and a series of flashbacks reveal more about Joe's past and his relationship with Cathie (Mortimer), a young woman who reminds him of the deceased. Moody, noirish and visually engaging with stellar portrayals by all. Based on a novel by Alexander Trocchi. 98m/C DVD . FR GB Ewan McGregor, Tilda Swinton, Peter Mullan, Emily Mortimer, Alan Cooke, Jack McElhone; D: David Mackenzie; W: David Mackenzie; C: Giles Nuttgens; M: David Byrne.