Review of Ratcatcher (1999) by Ally C — 13 Apr 2011
Ratcatcher, Lynne Ramsays film about a Glasgow tenement the 1973 Glasgow dustmen strike must stand up as one of the finest British Films ever made and certainly one of the finest debuts in cinema. The film revolves around a family, James the son, his two sisters and their unnamed da and ma.
After James accidentally drowns a boy in the canal, we see his yearning for a different life away from his da who, while not abusive is drunk and is far from a loving figure for him. He looks for escape by travelling on a bus reaching the suburbs of satellite towns outside of Glasgow built to house the city poor and he fantasises about one day living in one such house with a field out back.
He also begins a non-sexual relationship with a girl who seems to be forced into sexual encounters with boys her age. Her indifference to these acts troubles the viewer but her genuine affection for James is a welcome mood-lifter within dark passages.
The film's ending is as sad and beguiling as it is upbeat, if you choose it to be and ends a startlingly bewitching film that will be difficult to forget.
This review of Ratcatcher (1999) was written by Ally C on 13 Apr 2011.
Ratcatcher has generally received very positive reviews.
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