Ratcatcher (1999)

An unabashed kid navigates the filthy world of 1973 Glasgow, preoccupying himself with the equally poor youth around him.

Director:

Lynne Ramsay

Writer:

Lynne Ramsay

Stars:

Tommy Flanagan, Mandy Matthews, William Eadie

12 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tommy Flanagan	...	Da
Mandy Matthews	...	Ma
William Eadie	...	James
Michelle Stewart	...	Ellen
Lynne Ramsay Jr.	...	Anne Marie (as Lynne Ramsay Jnr.)
Leanne Mullen	...	Margaret Anne
John Miller	...	Kenny
Jackie Quinn	...	Mrs. Quinn
James Ramsay	...	Mr. Quinn
Anne McLean	...	Mrs. Fowler
Craig Bonar	...	Matt Monroe
Andrew McKenna	...	Billy
Mick Maharg	...	Stef
James Montgomery	...	Hammy
Thomas McTaggart	...	Ryan

Storyline

Glasgow, summer, 1973. Dustmen are striking; bags of garbage add to the blight of council flats and a fetid canal. Ryan, who's about 12, drowns during a play fight with his neighbor, the jug-eared James. James runs home, a flat where he lives with his often-drunk da, his ma, and sisters, who live in hope of moving to newly-built council flats. The slice-of-life, coming-of-age story follows James as he tags along with the older lads; has a friendship with his quirky wee rodent-loving neighbor, Kenny; spends time with Margaret Anne, myopic, slightly older, the local sexual punching bag; and, has a moment or two of joy. The strike may end, but is there any way out for James?

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Plot Keywords:

fantasy sequence | neighbor | moving | hope | friendship | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 November 1999 (UK)

Also Known As:

Boku to sora to mugibatake

Filming Locations:

Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£52,378 (United Kingdom), 14 November 1999, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,762, 15 October 2000, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$216,781, 29 April 2001

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pathé Pictures International, BBC Films, Arts Council of England

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of Gary Oldman's favourite films.

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Goofs

The film is set in 1975. The Leyland Atlantean bus used throughout, LA1 (FYS998), was withdrawn from service in 1973. It is preserved in the Glasgow Museum of Transport.

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Quotes

Kenny: Goodbye, Snowball!

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Connections

References Kill the Day (2000)

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Soundtracks

Something Stupid
Performed by Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra
Written by C. Carson Parks (as Carson Parks)
Licensed by Montclare Music Company Ltd. London
Copyright © Greenwood Music Company, USA
Used by kind permission of Montclare Music Company Ltd. London

User Reviews

A very powerful movie which will stick with you for a long time

I saw this movie recently at a special Student premiere in Leicester Square in London. I'd read a few reviews from various magazines about the movie and its lack of Narrative structure, but from watching the first 5 minutes, I knew this was something special. This has to be one of the most powerful British Movies ever made. The acting is superb, the whole cast is brilliant especially the children. Lynn Ramsey directs her feature debut with confidence and professional ability, and the result is stunning. The Narrative does give way slightly after the "accident" and the movie seems to forget about that fateful day on the canal, it seems to drift a little, but this, as I found out afterwards was on purpose. The movie was originally envisaged as 20 short stories which came into one, and it was also designed so the audience would always have this event in the back of their minds throughout the movie and whenever something relevant happened you were instantly reminded of it. Their are a few minor controversial scenes in the movie which some members of the audience did not agree with and others simply laughed off - I was not bothered about the main controversial scene but could see and hear that some people were offended. The setting of Glasgow in the late 1970s is well represented, and set around the dustbin men strike of '76. The atmosphere of living in a disease ridden place like this with rubbish piling up on every corner is almost tangible. The balance between bleakness and humour is never crossed too far either side. The subject matter is very depressing and humour was therefore injected in places (such as the rat on the moon sequence) to lighten up the audience and not have them leaving the cinema depressed.

This movie is a real stunner, don't be fooled by reviews and magazines saying otherwise go and see this movie at the first possible chance. You will not be disappointed.