Ratcatcher (Widescreen): Amazon.ca: Tommy Flanagan, Mandy Matthews, William Eadie, Michelle Stewart, Lynne Ramsay Jr., Leanne Mullen, John Miller, Jackie Quinn, James Ramsay, Anne McLean, Craig Bonar, Andrew McKenna, Lynne Ramsay, Andrea Calderwood, Barbara McKissack, Bertrand Faivre, Gavin Emerson, Peter Gallagher, Sarah Radclyffe: DVD

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Brutality and hope intertwine in this quiet coming-of-age story. Set in a Glasgow, Scotland, slum during a 1973 trash collectors' strike, the film follows young James, shaken after accidentally causing the death of a friend, who dreams of moving into newly built council flats. The loosely plotted slice-of-life piece moves between James's family and his friendship with Kenny, a slightly off animal fancier, and the older Margaret Anne. Though the setting is grim, the movie is far from bleak. Even as the trash bags pile up, James takes comfort in something as simple as being combed for head lice. The cast is excellent, and writer-director Lynne Ramsay coaxes astonishingly good performances out of her child actors. Complex and haunting, Ratcatcher holds a silent wish at its center. The DVD includes an interview with Ramsay, and three of her short films. --Ali Davis

Video Details

In her breathtaking and assured debut feature, Lynne Ramsay creates a haunting evocation of a troubled Glasgow childhood. Set during Scotland’s national garbage strike of the mid-1970s, Ratcatcher explores the experiences of a poor adolescent boy as he struggles to reconcile his dreams and his guilt with the abjection that surrounds him. Utilizing beautiful, elusive imagery, candid performances, and unexpected humor, Ratcatcher deftly examines the landscape of urban decay and a rich interior landscape of hope and perseverance, resulting in a work at once raw and deeply poetic.

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Customer Reviews

12 Reviews

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
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Average Customer Review

4.6 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)

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3.0 out of 5 stars Great Story, But Im Getting Tired of The Shakey Camera, Feb 2 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Ratcatcher (Widescreen) (DVD)

ramsey, with her background in photography, falls into a ever-growing trend in independent cinema. Ratcatcher comes complete with shakey steady cam shots, ultra-photograhic framing and dis-jointed editing. The effect these have is ultimately gorgeous, however these techniques are beginning to be, for me at least, a tad bit played out. They do less to service the story and do more to glorify the director and D.P. The story is handled well: she lets it develope slowly, and she doesnt force any moments on the viewer. All in all this is a great stroy and a beautifully shot film, but doesnt really push any visual boundries like some would like to believe.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely, Nov 29 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Ratcatcher (Widescreen) (DVD)

If you read reviews for a plot synopsis, you likely won't like this film, much less this review. In the end, who cares about plot, if the direction, performances, set design, cinematography, and production quality are good enough? This is not a plot-less venture; rather, it's a true-to-life, realistic-but-lyrical, coming-of-age exploration. But, regardless of plot, there's a beautiful story here, filmed with the exstiquisite eye of Lynne Ramsey. If you like the 400 Blows (I don't, personally), or any other realistic, depressing tale of a child's life, you will love this film. The dialect is so thick that subtitles are provided, and the cinematogrpahy so stunningly bleak that you'll find it hard to drag your eyes from the image to the words. I can't say enough positive things about this gorgeous film. A true European indie feature, not the semi-indie crap Miramax passes off these days. The DVD comes with 3 remarkable shorts (okay--two greats and one unbearable), and is really a MUST for wanna-be film students (I'm one, so trust me!)

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5.0 out of 5 stars a bit "drecht", but brilliantly thought provoking, Aug 17 2003

By

waived wench "waived wench" (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ratcatcher (VHS Tape)

I was warned in advance that "Ratcatcher" was a bit "drecht" (Glaswegian for gloomy). That is undeniable, but it is also a very sensitive, thought provoking piece. Set in Glasgow in 1973, the film explores various themes, such as the main character James' guilt over the accidental drowning of a friend, his uneasy relationship with his drunken father and his innocent friendship with a teenage hooker. It manages to weave together all these stories without seeming heavyhanded. The acting is brilliant,particularly that of the child actors, most of whom had never acted before. The adult actors are brilliant, too, especially Tommy Flanagan, who plays James' often drunk "Da" (the scene where he berates James for innocently letting council inspectors into the family's apartment and tells him that "It'll be all your f--g fault" if they lose their coveted council house is an assessment of everything that is wrong with this family.)
The subtitles were interesting. I understand the Glaswegian dialect (by virtue of having a Glaswegian mother), but it was interesting to see how the dialogue was transferred onto the screen. I noticed that the words were transposed on the screen as is, not translated into standard English (i.e. "No, ye cannae" rather than "No you can't"). It actually was better that way.
The ending is ambiguous, but that's keeps what the film in your mind. It also ends on a poignant note. The final scene is the only time in the film that James smiles. All in all, I would not recommend this to someone who wants cheering up, but if you can handle the "down side" it is a marvellous production.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gem of a Gutsey Independent Film
Well, I have to confess to turning on the English subtitles to understand the type of English practiced in Scotland, but this is one heck of a movie that will haunt you long after... Read more

Published on July 26 2003 by Michael

5.0 out of 5 stars Haunting... Brilliant.
Poetry on screen, this is a grim but beautiful story about working class family life in 1970's England, focusing on the daily escapades of a young boy as he maneuvers through the... Read more

Published on April 23 2003 by Jeremy Hulette