大象传媒

Documentary following friends Becki, Stacey and Vanessa, three 16-year-old girls from Rochdale, where unemployment rates are high and teenage pregnancy is above the national average. During the 12 months of filming there are three pregnancies within the group.

Becki, the first expectant mum, is pregnant by her 26-year-old boyfriend Andy after only a few weeks of dating. Now coming to terms with the reality of becoming parents and initially surviving on benefits, Becki and Andy can only afford the most basic of housing. They are still trying to move from a damp-ridden house in the week when Becki is due to give birth. Even when Andy finds a job, he is working for the minimum wage and they are hardly better off.

Vanessa often seems angry with her life and prospects in her home town. She looks for fights or directs her frustrations at the predominantly Asian community around her. School becomes less of a priority for the girls and they play truant more and more throughout their final year of GCSEs. Eventually all of them drop out without taking any exams.

Vanessa and Stacey had both dreamed of joining the army, but when they are told they are not allowed for medical reasons, their career prospects look bleak.

The arrival of Becki's baby puts a strain on the girls' friendship and over time the dynamics of the group change. Becki feels increasingly isolated as Stacey prefers to spend time with her new boyfriend or go out partying with Vanessa.

Despite the fact that there are two more pregnancies within the group, there is a surprise twist at the end of the film. One of the girls breaks away from the group and turns her back on Rochdale, whilst the other two stay behind looking after their babies.