PURE

UK, 2002, 96 minutes, Colour.
Harry Eden, Molly Parker, David Wenham, Keira Knightley, Geraldine Mc Ewan, Karl Johnson, Gary Lewis, Kate Ashfield, Tamsin Greig.
Directed by Gillies Mackinnon)

Over the years, Scottish director, Gillies Mackinnon, has made a number of films which focus on small groups, family relationships and social crises: Small Voices, Hideous Kinky. Pure is even more dramatic. The focus is on a widowed mother with two sons in the West Ham area of London. But the audience share the point of view of the ten year old son. He is devoted, especially preparing medicine for his sick mother. He has no idea that she is a heroin addict and that the friend of his father who calls round socially is the supplier. Gradually, he learns the truth and is determined that she will come off the drugs, especially when a friendly neighbour dies of an overdose and her little daughter is taken into child care.

Young Harry Eden gives a very moving performance as Paul, the young son. He is so real that he continually makes us reflect on the issues and how a boy who has to face these responsibilities every day can cope with school and the ordinary life of a ten year old boy. The film is frequently harrowing, especially through Molly Parker's performance as the mother, continually desperate for fixes, trying to be a mother to her boys, promising to go cold turkey (with Paul locking her in her room and having to ignore her cries and pleas). It is even more harrowing when Paul himself tries the heroin so that he will know what his mother is going through.

While we are taken into the suburban depths of drugs and seeming hopelessness, the film does offer some hope (offending some critics who seem to believe a film has no integrity unless it has an unhappy ending!).

1. The title of the film? Purity of character? Paul, his age? Innocent young boy? The contrast of pure in reference to the quality of heroin?

2. The locations, London suburbs, West Ham, the football stadium looming over the suburb, homes, streets, cafes? The musical score?

3. Drugs in suburbia, addiction stories? Audiences identifying with characters and situations?

4. The strong cast, making the characters and situations credible?

5. Mel’s story, the focus of the plot, her age, her being a widow, her husband dying of a heart attack, possibly drugs? The details of her day by day life? Government support? Her heroin addiction? Lenny as her husband’s friend, now her lover? Paul and his preparing the breakfast and the heroin hit? Her decision to go cold turkey, Paul locking her in the room, her demanding to be out, the clash between mother and son? Lenny’s intervention, failure?

6. Mel, trying to be a good mother, underestimating the effect of the drugs on her?

7. Paul, his age, love for his mother, care for his brother, managing the house without a father? The details of daily life, preparing the breakfast and his mother’s hit, the shots, his riding his bike? His attitude towards Lenny? In the house, his friendship with Louise? Her addiction? The discussions, intimacy? His persuading her to let him try out the effect? The close-ups of his eyes? Wanting to understand and feel what his mother was experiencing? His touching Louise’s breast?

8. The grandparents, their concern, response, wanting the children?

9. Marsha, her addiction, only crack? Friendship with Mel? The comparison with Nicky, the prostitute, her child, Mel taking care – and the crisis on the bus?

10. The character of Lenny, his background, as a person, friendship with Mel’s husband, dealing, supplying Mel, the antagonism towards Paul? His sexual relationship with Mel?

11. Lenny and the police, the inspector, trying to prove his case against Lenny, Paul and the antagonism, his being caught in the crossfire?

12. The background, with Louise, at the cafe, talk, drugs? With the grandparents and their concern?

13. The ending with the touch of happiness, hopefulness – rather than continuing to be mired in addiction?