Young Adam Movie Cast, Plot and Everything to Know

Plot

What's the story about?

Plot

"Young Adam" is David McKenzie's adaptation of Alexander Trocchi's novel, a romantic murder mystery set on a barge in the canals of Scotland. Lovely photography by Giles Nuttgens, complemented by a lonely score by David Byrne, provides a picturesque backdrop for what is otherwise a seedy story of morality gone far astray and hopelessness taking hold of everyday life, with sex as the only outlet. Ewan McGregor and Tilda Swinton both lend excellent performances to the film, acting out a strained relationship of carnal misgiving that is their mutual respite. Working on a barge that travels to ports between Glasgow and Edinburgh, Joe (McGregor) is a randy ol' chap. He befriends Les (Peter Mullen) as they labor hard days shoveling coal and pass their evenings over pints and darts in the local pubs. But Joe is simply positioning himself to seduce Les' wife, Ella (Swinton), who he easily and frequently beds. A steamy affair with a heavy dose of on-screen coitus eventually leads to trouble for all three. A subplot concerns Joe's past romance with a girl (Emily Mortimer) whose mysterious death is reported in local papers, with flashbacks to raunchy sexual interludes representing his fondest memories of her.

Drama

Top Cast

The lead cast starring in Young Adam.

• 
  Ewan McGregor

  Flowervale Street, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

• T
  Tilda Swinton

  The Room Next Door, The End

• E
  Emily Mortimer

  Paddington in Peru, Cars 2

• P
  Peter Mullan

  Hercules, Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle

• J
  Jack McElhone

  Dear Frankie

• T
  Therese Bradley

• A
  Alan Cooke

• R
  Rory McCann

  Jackdaw, Alexander

• S
  Stuart McQuarrie

  Another Year

• E
  Ewan Stewart

Crew Behind the Film

The Young Adam behind-the-scenes crew and production team.

The film's writer David MacKenzie last wrote Outlaw King and The Stain On The Snow.

Director

David McKenzie

Screenwriter

David MacKenzie

Producer

Jeremy Thomas

Additional Information

All Trailers

Official Young Adam movie trailers and clips.

Production Details

What we know about the Young Adam movie production.

Questions

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