One review on 30 Jan 2021

UK 1999

Running time: 94 mins

Ratcatcher

Director : Lynne Ramsay 

Setting: Glasgow 1973
Original language: English (Glaswegian accents)
Summary: Slice of life in Glasgow 1973 seen through the eyes of a 12 year old boy.

Cast:

  • Tommy Flanagan  Jamie

Aspect Ratio: 1.85 widescreen

Colour: Colour

Sound: Talkie

Camera: 35

Tech Notes: Camera : 35. Talkie

Film Category
The 1990s
First Seen: Sat 30th Jan 2021
Catalogued: 3rd Feb 2021

Synopsis

Set against the background of the dustbin men strike in one of the remaining (scheduled for clearance) tennament streets of Glasgow. A boy gets drowned when a pal pushes him in the canal while playing. e then follow the one who pushed as he explores the world around him - older boys, the mystery of sex, the rats in the rubbish, escape to the new buildings on the outskirts of town a friend with a pet rat, and an ambiguous ending.

Reviews

by rogerco on Sat 30th Jan 2021 Streamed proj @ home

No-one catches a rat

Summary

A somewhat dismal slice of poor life film. There is no redemption.

Full review

Sometimes hard to understand what people are saying thanks to the thick accents. Well acted and convincingly realistic about how shit some aspects of the early 70s were (not that today may be much better). 

The ambiguous ending (did he drown, or were they rehoused?) rather underlines the fact that the film isn't quite sure what it is trying to say. But maybe that's the point. It's just life innit.

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