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Set in 1930s Britain, this drama surrounds one family's struggles to survive during the Depression with their values and relationships intact.

The eponymous protagonist is an Irish Catholic seven-year-old boy growing up in Liverpool. His father is employed at the local shipyard, but with Britain being in the middle of its post-World War I economic upheaval, this situation doesn't last for long, and he soon finds himself unemployed and being supported by his daughter, who goes to work as a maid for the rich Jewish family who owns the shipyard. The mother tries to keep her family together in the face of hardship, while the father, increasingly bitter and looking for someone to blame, joins the local Fascist party. The film focuses on how the family deals with both its internal and external crises, and the effects of growing up in such dire circumstances.

The cast is largely unknown in the US, but the director, Stephen Frears, has done quite a number of high-profile films, the most recognizable among them being Dangerous Liaisons, High Fidelity, Hero and The Grifters. He also has quite the art-house resume; among his titles are such faves as My Beautiful Launderette, The Snapper, and Prick Up Your Ears. His films, while not always successful, do tend to attract attention, and generally have been well received critically.

The film is scheduled for limited release in the US, after seeing some success in the UK. On paper, this looks like the kind of film that can attract the art-house crowd, especially with marketing support from Lion's Gate, the US distributor, good reviews and positive word-of-mouth. Judging by the information available, this could be another of Frears' successes. (Calvin Trager/BOP)

Vital statistics for Liam Main Cast Anthony Borrows, Ian Hart, Claire Hackett Supporting Cast David Hart, Megan Burns, Anne Reid Director Stephen Frears Screenwriter Jimmy McGovern Distributor Lions Gate Trailer Click Here for Trailer Rating R Running Time 90 minutes Screen Count 7 Talent in red has entry in The Big Picture

Comparison films for Liam
Title	Date	Opening	Adjusted Opening	Screens	PSA	Adj PSA	Total BO	Adjusted Total	Mult
High Fidelity	3/31/00	6.43	7.19	1183	5435.00	5848.4	27.04	30.24	4.21
Hero	10/2/92	5.21	7.57	1826	2853.00	3987.3	19.17	27.85	3.68
Grifters, The	1/25/91	3.31	4.74	766	4321.00	5952.9	12.85	18.40	3.79
Angela's Ashes	1/21/00	3.22	3.60	610	5279.00	5680.6	13.04	14.58	3.92
Billy Elliot	11/10/00	2.60	2.90	494	5269.00	5669.8	21.99	24.60	7.23
Hero, The	4/11/03	0.13	0.13	21	6200.00	6200.0	0.29	0.29	2.19