Gritty crime masterpiece starring young Martin Compston was controversially banned in the UK to under 18s

When you’re talking about films banned for under 18s, there is often an idea that young people are being ‘protected’.

Whether it be sexual content, extreme violence, or any manor of other reasons the British censorship board can think to ban a movie for young people.

In the case of one banned crime film banned in the UK for under 18s, the filmmakers argued that the ban was preventing the very people it was vital saw the film from viewing it.

Starring a young Martin Compston, the film is called Sweet Sixteen.

Directed by the legendary Ken Loach, the 2002 movie is a contemporary and gritty masterpiece which portrays the working-class lives of a group of young people in Scotland.

The film was a massive critical success, winning best screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival and being nominated for the prestigious Palme d’or.

Compston stars as Liam, a young teenager from the rough Greenock estates in Scotland, trying to raise the money to buy a house for when his mum comes out of prison.

The movie was catered particularly towards young people, especially those who grew up in working class families.

Loach cast Compston in the film at 17 after his teacher told him to go up for an audition despite having no professional acting experience prior to this.

The film is directed by Ken Loach (Lionsgate Films)

Despite the film meant to be aimed at young people in the UK, the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) made the decision to ban the film for under 18s.

While use of the word f**k is allowed in films rated 15 in the UK, the BBFC pointed to the fact that a single use of the word c*nt is grounds to ban a film for young people.

The film uses the word f**k over 200 times, and uses c*nt 20 times, which led the BBFC to place an 18 age rating on it.

According to The Guardian, Loach encouraged young people ignore the BBFC and go see it anyway, saying: "I wonder what message the BBFC sends to the people in the film by telling them that they are fit only to be rated with the work of pornographers."

Despite the ban, the film still became a cult classic, with the movie sitting at a near-perfect 97 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, and an audience score of 88 per cent.

The film is now a cult classic (Lionsgate Films)

The legendary Roger Ebert gave the film 3.5 out of four stars, saying: “The movie's performances have a simplicity and accuracy that is always convincing.”

The Hollywood Reporter were also full of praise for the film, saying of the lead performance: “Compston, who has never acted before, is a natural.”

When discussing being cast in the role, Compston said that his teacher came to speak to him after they planned to host open auditions at his school.

In 2022, he told The Independent on the film’s 20 year anniversary his teacher said ‘Look, they’re talking about this kid they’re looking for and I think it’s you.’

He went on to say: “I mean, looking back, it probably meant a wee gobs**te who had far too much to say for himself.”

Regardless, it spawned Compston’s hugely successful career and a cult classic film.