Ruby Blue (2007)

An elderly man's innocent friendship with an eight year old girl is tarnished by the assumptions of a community when the little girl goes missing.

Director:

Jan Dunn

Writer:

Jan Dunn

Stars:

Bob Hoskins, Josiane Balasko, Jody Latham

4 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bob Hoskins	...	Jack
Josiane Balasko	...	Stephanie
Jody Latham	...	Ian
Josef Altin	...	Frankie
Jessica Stewart	...	Florrie
Shannon Tomkinson	...	Stacey
Sean Wilton	...	Dick
Angelica O'Reilly	...	Rosie
Ashley McGuire	...	Debbie
Chloe Sirene	...	Cecile
Michael Mills	...	Joey
Sam Talbot	...	Sean
Corinna Powlesland	...	Suzy
Lisa Payne	...	Policewoman
Rebecca Clow	...	DCI Cartwright

Storyline

Jack (Bob Hoskins) is consumed by guilt and past regret. He is hated by his son and abused by local youths. The death of his wife leaves Jack lost and alone in his self loathing. Hope arrives in the unlikely form of eight year old, Florrie, when she moves in next door and delights in Jack's neglected racing pigeons, unwittingly rekindling his own love for the birds. When his glamorous French neighbour, Stephanie (Josiane Balasko) takes pity on him, Jack cannot help but fall for her charms. When gradually his innocent friendship with Florrie is thrown into question when the girl goes missing and Stephanie reveals a well kept secret, Jack's life is thrown into turmoil. His son comes to his defence amidst the local mob mentality and Jack finally faces his own prejudices to win back Stephanie's love.

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Plot Keywords:

french | pigeon | bird | death | racing pigeon | 

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Taglines:

To have a future, you have to let your past go free.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 April 2008 (UK)

Also Known As:

Ruby Red Chequer

Box Office

Budget:

£350,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Medb Films, Entertainment Motion Pictures (E-MOTION), Le Tax Shelter du Gouvernement Fédéral de Belgique

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Stephanie: [looking at the graffiti on Jack's house] What means "Pede"?
Jack: She thinks I interfere with kids.
Stephanie: Pédophile?

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Soundtracks

"La Vie En Rose"
(Louiguy/Piaf)
Sung by Josiane Balasko
Piano played by Christine Croshaw
Child's Accordion played by Richard Davenport

User Reviews

Lovely

This is a truly lovely film, both heart-warming and rending in equal measure.

Bob Hoskins is magnificent, as is all the acting (especially the two little girls), and I wouldn't be surprised to see some Oscar nominations in there.

What I most liked about the film, however, was its understanding of life in lower-middle/working class England, not least the current 'witch-hunting' of SUSPECTED pedophiles. This is highlighted with wit and irony, notably through the stormy relationship between an abject single mother and her (unsurprisingly) problematic offspring.

In short, a 'must see'!