Ratcatcher

Name: Ratcatcher
Genre: Drama
Released: October 13, 2000
Duration: 94 min
Rating: 76

2000

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Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 32 Ratings

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7.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 32 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

First Look International | Release Date: October 13, 2000 | Not Rated

Summary: The story of a twelve year old boy (Eadie) living in working-class Glasgow, Scotland during the 1970's garbage strikes, Ratcatcher portrays the difficulties of his reality and his desire to escape through dreams.

Director: Lynne Ramsay

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 94 min

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Critic Reviews

John Patterson

Ramsay has made a movie in which a universe of hopelessness and decay is penetrated by shafts of light that remake these bleak surroundings in strange and beautiful ways. Read full review

Mr. Showbiz Michael Atkinson

Easily the best directorial debut of the year, and possibly the most mature and haunting film to ever come out of Scotland, Lynne Ramsay's Ratcatcher is a throat-catching masterpiece of lyricism, observation, and stone-cold realism.

Michael Wilmington

One of the most remarkable English-language feature debuts of recent years.

Kimberley Jones

An inner-city tragedy that plays its story simply, sorrowfully, and beautifully. Read full review

Marta Barber

A brilliant film by Lynne Ramsay.

Barry Johnson

A sense of claustrophobia emerges, increases and colonizes the film.

Mick LaSalle

When it's not awful, it's dull. Read full review

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User Reviews

gailk

Sep 11, 2009

This is an amazing debut art film about poverty and the beauty of the human spirit to find happiness in difficult places.

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Sindri

Feb 20, 2011

Lyrical and envisaged soul-search - Lynne Ramsay's feature debut is quiet childhood tale with heavenly photography, moody music, authentic milieu depictions and magnetic direction. The year is 1973 and the working class is influenced by a garbage streak that over-floods the streets withLyrical and envisaged soul-search - Lynne Ramsay's feature debut is quiet childhood tale with heavenly photography, moody music, authentic milieu depictions and magnetic direction. The year is 1973 and the working class is influenced by a garbage streak that over-floods the streets with trash, rats and misfortune. In a dirty neighborhood in Glasgow twelve year old James lives with his beer drinking father, housewife mother and two sisters. One day when he's out playing with his friend Ryan down by a lake, the playing gets out of hand and Ryan drowns. In a state of chock James vanishes from the scene of the crime and removes all suspicion away from himself. This tragic event causes James' parents great concern, and while James is at a loss as to whether he is going to tell what really happened, feelings of guilt begins to absorb him and gradually he slips into a lonely and introvert state that threatens to overshadow his perception of reality.

This film which was given English subtitles in England due to the characters particular Scottish dialect is an unglamorous and realistic portrayal of the working class in Glasgow during the 1970s which on one side is an extensive allegory of a gritty society struck by inflation and on the other a shining fable about childhood dreams.

With chronological narrative and credible storytelling Ramsay conceives a nostalgic mood that reminds us of the wholly days of childhood. Somewhere within all this sad melancholy that influences the characters, Ramsay is able to captivate lovely images of nature that creates efficient and natural contrasts. Ramsay's human insight an directorial talent comes to show when she takes us in to the core of a 12 year old boys mentality and exposes his soul with modest precision. The actors are convincing in their respective parts and William Eadie delivers an outstanding performance in the role of the seldom character James. Ramsay's distinct form of expression and personal style shows a confidence and an understanding for movie making that stands out. This is a lyrical and contemplating film about adjusting in a world that's easy to be deflected by, but impossible to write off.… Expand

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