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IMDbPro

Riff-Raff

  • 19911991
  • RR
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
4.7K
YOUR RATING
Robert Carlyle and Emer McCourt in Riff-Raff (1991)
The story of Stevie, a construction worker, and his girlfriend, an unemployed pop singer, serves to show the living conditions of the British poor class.
Play trailer2:12
1 Video
18 Photos
ComedyDrama
The story of construction-worker Stevie and his unemployed pop-singer girlfriend shows the living conditions of the British poor class.The story of construction-worker Stevie and his unemployed pop-singer girlfriend shows the living conditions of the British poor class.The story of construction-worker Stevie and his unemployed pop-singer girlfriend shows the living conditions of the British poor class.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
4.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Ken Loach
  • Writer
    • Bill Jesse(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Robert Carlyle
    • Emer McCourt
    • Jim R. Coleman
  • Director
    • Ken Loach
  • Writer
    • Bill Jesse(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Robert Carlyle
    • Emer McCourt
    • Jim R. Coleman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 20Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 5 wins & 5 nominations

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:12
    Watch Trailer

    Photos18

    Robert Carlyle and Emer McCourt in Riff-Raff (1991)
    Ricky Tomlinson in Riff-Raff (1991)
    Riff-Raff (1991)
    Riff-Raff (1991)
    Riff-Raff (1991)
    Robert Carlyle and Emer McCourt in Riff-Raff (1991)
    Robert Carlyle and Emer McCourt in Riff-Raff (1991)
    Riff-Raff (1991)
    Riff-Raff (1991)
    Robert Carlyle and Ade Sapara in Riff-Raff (1991)
    Emer McCourt in Riff-Raff (1991)
    Robert Carlyle and Ricky Tomlinson in Riff-Raff (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Carlyle
    Robert Carlyle
    • Stevie
    Emer McCourt
    Emer McCourt
    • Susan
    Jim R. Coleman
    • Shem
    • (as Jimmy Coleman)
    George Moss
    • Mo
    Ricky Tomlinson
    Ricky Tomlinson
    • Larry
    David Finch
    • Kevin
    Richard Belgrave
    • Kojo
    Ade Sapara
    Ade Sapara
    • Fiaman
    Derek Young
    • Desmonde
    Bill Moores
    • Smurph
    Luke Kelly
    • Ken Jones
    Gary Lammin
    Gary Lammin
    • Mick
    • (as Garrie J. Lammin)
    Willie Ross
    • Gus Siddon
    Dean Perry
    • Wilf
    Dylan O'Mahony
    • Youth
    Brian Coyle
    • Youth
    Stuart Peveril
    • Youth
    Terry Bird
    • Van Driver
    • Director
      • Ken Loach
    • Writer
      • Bill Jesse(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The characters' local regional and Cockney accents were so heavy that the film provided subtitles, even for British audiences.
    • Goofs
      Between 7:56 and 8:00 minutes in, as Robert Carlyle enters his squat for the first time, the boom is clearly visible under the ceiling and the boom operator on the left as Robert walks by.
    • Quotes

      Susan: Do you ever get depressed?

      Steve: No. Depressions are for the middle classes. The rest of us have got an early start in the morning.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Untamed Heart/Strictly Ballroom/Groundhog Day/Love Field/Riff-Raff (1993)
    • Soundtracks
      Always On My Mind
      Composed by Johnny Christopher (as J. Christopher), Francis Zambon (as M. Jones) and Wayne Carson Thompson (as W. Thompson)

      Performed by Emer McCourt

    User reviews13

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Tough in the trenches.
    In some ways I felt as though I'd died and gone to heaven the first time I saw Riff Raff, an out and out honest look at working class men of varied, and sometimes dubious, backgrounds connected through their work on a construction sight in London.

    The cast of characters defines the term 'mixed bag'. I couldn't help but think of a half dozen or so Archie Bunkers on the job site, each one with their own set of priorities, talking about the most important thing in the world, to no one but himself. It all brings a smile to my face.

    Our closest look is at Stevie (Robert Carlyle of "The Full Monty"), a former petty thief, who works with a crew converting condos for the nouveau riche, while he's forced to break into an abandoned building just to find a place to squat.

    Director Ken Loach expertly focuses on the lower class in Britain (witness his brilliant 1999 feature-"My Name is Joe") where the honesty laced with humor of his viewpoint tends to provide humanity to an otherwise ignored sect. To shine a bit of light on an otherwise dismal existence as it may.

    Loach's characters are never overly redemptive: they don't hit the lottery; aren't left millions by a dead aunt; or marry a rich suitor. And the ending here is a bit short, trite. But they usually come through the film a little stronger having weathered their travails, feeling a little better about themselves. I dare say we come through feeling a little better about ourselves as well.
    helpful•20
    3
    • Doctor_Bombay
    • Apr 21, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 12, 1993 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Olos
    • Filming locations
      • Deaconess Court, Tottenham Green East, Tottenham, London, England, UK(The building site)
    • Production companies
      • Parallax Pictures
      • Channel Four Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $295,444
    • Gross worldwide
      • $295,444
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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