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

This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #162.

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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

Featured in The Story of Film: An Odyssey: European New Wave (2011)

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Soundtracks

Roobarb & Custard
Directed by Bob Godfrey
Written by Grange Calveley (as Grange Calverley)
Narrated by Richard Briers
© Roobarb Enterprises

User Reviews

Kiesloskwi has an heir

Fantastic. I'm reminded of Kieslowski, before he got budgets and beautiful actresses (which is fine, they were gorgeous). The depiction of slum living as beautiful cinematically is a risky approach, but she pulls it off with aplomb. This film is great not because of its story but its images. The young kid staring out the window of the newly-constructed houses at the field of barley is utter beauty, I was reminded of Malick. The depiction of a young boy is superb, that child is a brilliant actor, watch the way he changes his walk when he's with the older, idiot, desensitised boys. And the mouse floating off to the moon on a helium balloon, surrealism lives, low budget FX and all, risky, works brilliantly, brought down to earth with 'But you killed him, Kenny.' No one who was ever a child and who enjoys brilliant cinematography will fail to enjoy this splendid film.