User reviews

One thing that stands out like a sore thumb on the previous comment is that David Wenham plays a drug dealer, he's easy on the eyes but a not so nice a fella. The son brings out all my maternal instincts, he does such a fantastic job of playing this tortured child that he makes me want to slap his mother silly. What a future this young man will have as an actor. Keira Knightly is really great but I want to slap her too. Alas this is reality in the real world, addictions can take over all senses, and destroy all in it's path. This really is a compelling movie and I tried to stop watching but just could not. It makes me wonder what the writer has gone thru to create such a sad story.

Pure, a film about a heroin addict mother in East London, could all too easily have become a cold and hopeless rendition of the destructive nature of drug use. Instead, through sensitive screenplay and compelling performances from the cast, it successes in showing how a binding familial love can triumph over the modern evils which so many face. Molly Parker, who plays a widowed junkie mother of two compels us to discover how she can care more about heroin than her two sons. However, the saving grace of the film is the mature and grounded portrayal of her older son, Paul, played by Harry Eden. His simple, heartfelt acting gives the audience a sense of his position, trapped between loyalty to his mother and the social services. It is Eden's acting, through which the film is shown, that we are immersed into the grimy drudgery of West Ham. His facial expression, never contrived or obvious gives a realism which makes him shine out against other child actors today. And when he too smokes heroin with his companion Louise (played by Keira Knightley in a refreshing change from her swashbuckling), we wonder whether the vice of this drug can grip him too. The image of a ten year-old boy chasing the dragon tips us to the edge of our seats and ponders what lengths this film will go to to show us such a different world. The cinematography offers haunting visions of this concrete jungle and is very effective. I felt the film's only downfall was its soundtrack which is written by only one person and gives little variation from its initial theme. However at some points its sentimental sound is appropriate. I really did like this film because at its core stood the moral that despite what influences of sin and hatred we might undergo, love will always remain. Well worth seeing.

...is still a junkie flick. Such is "Pure" in which Eden, a ten year old son of a heroin addict, occupies nearly every scene as the film explores the highs and lows of the mother/son drug tainted relationship. The opposite of "gritty", this sugar coated Brit flick delivers a solid performance by Parker as the mom/junkie who has to go through the obligatory lifestyle decay, agonizing withdrawal, courageous recovery, pitiful setback, etc. However, the film does little to distinguish itself and those who have seen junkie flicks before may well get the feeling "Pure" is not sufficiently creative or unique to make the viewing time well spent. (C+)

This is a rather cheap movie and I don't mean cheap in terms of its budget (well, perhaps also a bit) but more in terms of its story and clichés. Seriously, this movie fairly much progresses just as you would expect it to and it just doesn't really have any surprises in it.

Yet it picks in original approach, by telling the story from the viewpoint of an 10 year old boy, who's mother is an heroin addict. So you see the usual story from an unusual viewpoint. It adds some originality and effectiveness to the story but yet overall the movie remains mostly shallow, which is not due to the acting or overall written but more to the directing.

The movie really isn't always flowing well and it also isn't helped much by its horrible musical score. The way the story is being told is weak at times and the movie too often chooses fast cuts and scenes often end too abruptly. The movie at points often leaves an unsatisfying impression because of this, though the movie its intentions are all good. Because of the storytelling I felt a certain distance to the story and character and wasn't overall grabbed by it. The movie because of this also doesn't work out as realistic as it potentially could had. Despite the actor's efforts most characters remain mainly stereotypical ones. No, I can't say Gillies MacKinnon is my favorite director, even though this movie is the only one I have seen by him. The movie is just not the most effective or powerful one within its genre.

All of the actors are basically doing a good job but they don't really make the movie, or their characters more interesting than they are. Harry Eden is praised to heaven for his performance and it is a good role for an 12 year old but no people he really isn't that great. In some of the sequences (especially the emotional ones) his acting is simply lacking and I couldn't ever feel any of the pain or anger his character went trough, which again, might also be rather due to the movie its directing approach than anything else really. The movie also stars David Wenham and Keira Knightley before their days of fame. I like Keira Knightley and all but you can actually wonder what she is doing here in this movie. Her role on paper might seem like a relevant one but in the movie it works out as a redundant one, whose plot line is distracting from the one the movie is really all about.

I don't mean to sound too harsh about this movie, since its definitely a watchable one. It's just that it's also currently being overrated and overpraised on here, for something that it just really isn't.

6/10

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I was so impressed by this film. At first glance, it's just another junkie flick, as another user has implied - but there's a real humanity to this film that movies like "Trainspotting" and "Requiem" are lacking. I think this is largely due to the absolutely *stunning* performance of the main character - probably one of the best child actors I've ever seen on screen.

This film has quickly become one of my all time favourites. I was a bit dubious at first thinking this will be just another story of Heroine abuse, but I was wrong. This story of a 10 year old boy, played by the very talented young Harry Eden, trying to rid his mother of a terrible addiction is a touching story and will leave even the coldest heart a bit warmer towards him.

This is achieved through great screen play and acting abilities of cast members like Molly Parker who plays the addicted mother and David Wenham who plays Lenny, the pimp/dealer who is feeding Mel's (Molly Parker) addiction. But the true star of the show has to be Harry Eden who is in almost every scene and portraits just about every emotion known to man and seems to do so effortlessly.

This is a must see film for anyone that likes to be emotionally touched whilst watching a movie.

Molly Parker is indeed convincing as the addict mother but the person who brings this film off is the boy who plays her son -- so it behooves us to get his name right. Harry Eden makes a brilliant debut in this difficult role. He is onscreen in almost every scene, with far more screen time than either Parker or David Wenham who plays the mother's supplier. His daily trials are grim but his ultimate resolution of them is cathartic.

A great deal of crime in the world is drug induced, so those of us who lead a sheltered life have little time for those who indulge in them. However, watching a film such as this does make one stop and think, that in itself reason enough to view.There but for the grace-etc. The performances of all concerned were truly amazing, I am used to Molly Parker giving her all, but this was acting at the highest level, Harry Eden was brilliant. Others have picked out performances, but I haven't seen Geraldine McEwan mentioned, terrific as Gran. Films like this don't usually get awards, all I can say is-they should. Wonderful stuff! (I have voted nine as I reserve ten for that elusive perfect one that comes along once in a while.)

I picked this film up not knowing what to expect, and was pleasantly surprised. It is a gripping story, and the characters are well-developed. There are indeed several disturbing scenes and some sad circumstances, but it is tastefully done. I think everyone should watch this film, honestly. It reminds the viewer of the harsh realities of the world. Kiera Knightly does a wonderful job in her supporting role, as do the rest of the actors. Definitely an incredible performance by the little boy for such a mentally and emotionally demanding role. The score is also well-written and captures the tone of the film nicely. Overall, this is a wonderful, sad, gripping story that is a must-see!

Paul's mother is a prime example of where Britain has gone badly wrong. Although she is a widow with two sons, she has likely never worked and does not need to as the State will take care of her, provide her with a house, child allowance and a living allowance. As she has nothing to do and all day to do it, rather than clean and tidy up her squalid house, she idles the time away using drugs and leaving her children to drag themselves up. Her friends likewise.

As shown in this film, the once lively colorful East End of London is now home to a squalid demi-monde who prefer to do anything other than work and enjoy the finer things of life. Even Paul's waitress friend is a pick pocket and crack user. Where are the courageous people who survived six years of German bombing by sleeping in the underground railway stations, before going off to work next day. The people with their wonderful Cockney humour? Not in today's East End by the look of it.

Rather than sympathize with the characters in this film, I wanted to exterminate the junkies, pushers, and assorted low-lives, or at least cut them off from their State provided free ride.

This depressing film is not entertainment. Give me an old Ealing comedy any day.

Mel (Molly Parker) is a mess after the death of her husband. She's a junkie being taken care of by her 10-year-old son Paul. Family friend Vicki (Marsha Thomason) dies in an overdose. Paul is forced to confront that his mother could die from drugs. Her friend Lenny (David Wenham) feeds her the drugs. Paul befriends waitress Louise (Keira Knightley). Mel decides to quit Heroin cold-turkey with Paul helping out but Lenny stop it. Paul's grandparents tries to get him away from his mom.

The kid is wonderful in this. Of course, he's given a really juicy role. Molly Parker does a great job as a junkie in a British accent no less. The story is filled with humanity and it flows through the kid. Knightley has a co-starring role as a junkie grifter waitress. It's interesting to see her character presented at first as a savior for the kid.

Given a weak script, Molly Parker does the best she can to deliver predictable lines. In Pure, she plays a single mother strung out on heroin who has no desire or intention to stop. She is very believable as a grungy drug addict who emotionally abuses her child. Her young boy, Harry Eden, sees the destruction and dysfunction, and he seeks comfort elsewhere. As both a mother figure and a crush, Harry makes friends with a pregnant waitress, Keira Knightley. No one wants to feel that they're an incompetent parent, and Molly vows to stop the drugs. She barricades herself in the apartment and makes Harry promise not to let her out no matter what she says or how terribly she screams. Obviously, that's not a healthy position to put a ten-year-old child in. But this isn't a healthy movie, and it's pretty hard to watch if you care about kids. Not only does his character go through awful things, but Harry has to pretend he's going through awful things - and the pretending itself does emotional damage to child actors.

2002 was certainly Keira Knightley's year. She was a lowlife waitress in Pure, a tomboy soccer player in Bend It Like Beckham (there's an amusing reference to David Beckham when Harry feels the baby kicking in Keira's tummy), and the glamorous Lara in Doctor Zhivago. Thankfully, the latter stuck and she was able to get high-quality roles. She wasn't too likable in this movie, even though she tried to be nice to Harry. She did drugs while pregnant, and actually prepared and administered heroin to Harry after he requested that he wanted to know what his mother felt like. Unbelievable! I can't imagine anyone actually enjoying this movie, unless they're major Molly Parker fans and wanted to see her "Frank Sinatra" scenes.

Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to drug use and upsetting scenes involving a child, I wouldn't let my kids watch it.

DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. During the arcade and bumper cards scene, the camera is handheld. And when Harry takes drugs, the camera tilts to show his point of view, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"

Normally I am depressed by these kind of movies. There is a place for a look at the worst side of life but I don't usually seek them out for entertainment. However the performances in this are uniformly excellent and I watched it in spite of my prejudices. Particular praise goes out to Molly Parker and David Wenham, both from other parts of the world, but playing Londoners convincingly. Paul, wonderfully played by Harry Eden, is a fully fleshed character and Eden is unusually good for a child actor who, in effect, is carrying the whole movie, as he is in practically every scene. If anyone needs to see the misery that drugs cause they could do little better than watch this film.

pure is an example of how good British gritty socio- realism dramas can be when they get it right. I was surprised by Keira Knightley too who has usually adopted for costume drama roles. The star of the show is no doubt Harry Eden played wonderfully as the suffering mature son of a heroin addicted mother.

The film has a strong cast and the story is a realistic portrayal of a suffering family on a hardened estate. This film may just put you off drugs for life! Some of the scenes are heart breaking and emotional and it makes me count my lucky stars I was never involved in petty crime and drugs. Yet I can relate to the film and the characters. People are sucked into drugs by animal dealers and they just sit back and watch the carnage while Harry ( a 10 year old boy) picks up the pieces. solid stuff. 8/10

Excellent Film Plus Where It Was Filmed I Used To Live In East London and In Certain Scenes I Recognised Area's Especially Queens Road Market and Manor Road With The Double Decker Bus Scene. Also Interesting Seeing Masood From Eastenders In It

The most important aspect of this film is how it focuses on a 10 year old boy and his problem with his heroin addicted mother; not on a mother dealing with a boy using drugs.

Keira Knightley is the star power, but she's neither the sexiest nor the most slender; that goes to Molly Parker (Deadwood)and it's easy to see how she could attract men to enable her ongoing drug use. Her acting is as good as it gets but never falls into the trap of excess usually used to portray drug users. The portrayal of the boy Paul is also very real for being matter of fact rather than excess. The cinematography in a working class London neighborhood does not overdue the squalor but shows a pretty nice place to live ---- for those who haven't abandoned religion, patriotism, the work ethic, self-respect and other traditional English values.

Widespread drug use, beginning with heroin, began with MY generation, those who were young adults in the Kennedy Era. Heroin spread like uncontrolled wildfire across America --- from the inner cities of New York, Chicago and LA (the only places where drugs were common in 1960) into every town in America. The #1 carrier of the disease were the college kids --- spoiled brats who embraced heroin with open arms and spread it directly or indirectly to their children. Hippies, with their aversion to soap, spread their false credo of Peace and Love --- if only the world was stoned we'd all love each other. Hippies are just so Yesterday, but their poison legacy lives on.

Children dealing with stoner parents; that's the reality. Young people today have little idea how rotten things were in America in their parents' generation. Drugs and crime everywhere. When kids like Paul in this movie began to rebel against their corrupt and useless stoner parents; that's when things changed. How nice that this film gets it right.

Films about drug addiction has been made many many times before. To be unique and stand out, it has to be special and this film is. Featuring excellent performances throughout, the ultimate success or failure of the film really rests on the shoulders of the young buy Paul (played by Harry Eden) whose eyes we see the film through. I have seen many great performances by young actors and actresses but this is one of the very best (a truly astounding performance). The film offers a different perspective on drug addictions' effects and is a very powerful viewing experience. With a well scripted story which felt very believable, this is a film I can strongly recommend. As a side note, it's great to see that Mr Eden is still acting.