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Product Description
Twelve-year-old James (William Eadie) lives on a rundown Glasgow housing estate with his alcoholic father. Haunted by the drowning of his best friend, James is irresistibly drawn to the site of the death, which now plays host to a new housing development. There he meets a similarly troubled young girl (Leanne Mullen), with whom he strikes up an unusual friendship.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Photo Gallery, Scene Access, Short Film, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: Drama set in the mid-1970s at the time of the dustmen's strike. James, a young boy living in a poor area of Glasgow, has a fight with another boy on a canal bank, as a result of which the other boy drowns. James says nothing about his role in the incident although it weighs heavily on his mind. He spends most of his time dreaming of the day his working-class family will be able to move to a better council house in a different area, but meanwhile finds himself drawn back to the canal bank. He starts to spend time with Margaret Anne, a slightly older and sexually active girl from the same neighbourhood, and also with the slightly simple boy Kenny. His environment and guilt all begin to oppress him however. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: British Independent Film Awards, ...Ratcatcher ( Rat catcher )
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By fionnghal
Format:DVD
I think possibly C Myers just doesn't "get" this film - possibly (and apologies if I'm wrong) thru not having witnessed the events of 70s Britain. Not just for Glasgow was this an appalling period in UK history - almost worse than depression eras before it simply because it promised so much in terms of the "better life" but only for the few. You must take the film as a metaphor for all that was going on at the time. Of course the characters are not fully developed - that was what happened to people like them at that time - no realisation of their full potential. Being under-developed in the film is part of the metaphor, as is the "dreamlike quality" - all these people had was a dream of a better life which was unlikely to be fulfilled. As is the disjointed feel - that was what their lives were - a seies of disjointed events with no direction. And what was the "bike" to do? These kids didn't have nannies or childminders; they looked out for themselves. What she is doing in the film is SURVIVING - that's what it was like. The tale is harrowing because it is a harsh picture of reality as it was then (yes, I WAS there). it is doubly harrowing because so little has changed for so many people. As a secondary school teacher I am dealing on a daily basis some thirty years on with the fall-out of lives such as those portrayed in the rat-catcher. I use the film as a discucssion point at school - horrifically so many of my pupils recognise aspects of their own lives in it.
I rate "The Ratcatcher" highly because it depicts in an artistic yet realistic way, the realities of life then (and sadly life now). Because it is essentially a metaphor, it is much more powerful than "Sweet Sixteen". My pupils would for the most part agree.
And they all get the metaphor.
I rate "The Ratcatcher" highly because it depicts in an artistic yet realistic way, the realities of life then (and sadly life now). Because it is essentially a metaphor, it is much more powerful than "Sweet Sixteen". My pupils would for the most part agree.
And they all get the metaphor.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Peaches
Format:DVD
Ratcatcher is a film set in Glasgow in the 1970's. It's a poignant film about the life of a boy living on an estate, where the level of boredom is criminal, and the main activity of the kids is playing near the dangerous canal and catching rats amongst the rubbish left by the bin collectors strike. This boy witnesses his friend drowning in the canal, and he becomes more withdrawn from his family, but does befriend a girl who is basically being used as the local bike by a few of the lads. He dreams of being moved to a bigger house with a bathroom and fields. The ending will leave splinters in your heart. Excellent use of some Nick Drake music. It is perfectly paced, but if you like action and fast paced films, this is not for you.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Such an under-rated film, a simple heartachingly wonderful story. I could run a load of cliches to describe it, liken it to any boys story, without the misery of an Angelas Ashes or Kes, this one never gives up hope, even through the backdrop of poverty, filth and the usual alcholism/domestic violence that pervades every scene. I really wanted to find out what happened next, it was just such a good story. Highly recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful film
I thought this film was really wonderful: the story was touching and acting was excellent. There are no subtitles (English or otherwise) on this DVD release so for us non-native... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jelen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lynne Ramsay's Magical Film Debut
I must admit that when I first saw Lynne Ramsay's Ratcatcher on its release in 1999 I thought it had perhaps been overrated by the critics. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Keith M
5.0 out of 5 stars
SUBTITLE
Can anoyone tell me if there is english subtitles on this DVD (word word word word word word word word)
Published 12 months ago by Fawakedo
4.0 out of 5 stars
Grim Coming of Age Film Set in Glasgow Slums Garbage Men's Strike
"Ratcatcher," the Scottish director Lynn Ramsey's 1999 debut film, comes trailing black clouds behind, described as a grim and disturbing coming of age picture. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Stephanie DePue
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ratcatcher
I can only echo the positive reviews placed here by the majority of contributors. This is a British film of the highest order and should not be missed, particularly if you were... Read more
Published on 28 Sep 2010 by cyberdonblue
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great British Film
This is without doubt one of the best British films of the last twenty years. Stunningly shot, subtle, moving, tragic and funny. Recalls 1970s Glasgow with an uncanny accuracy. Read more
Published on 17 July 2010 by White Tea
5.0 out of 5 stars
ratcatcher
very interesting portrayal of how ordinary people lived before modernisation was beginning to be introduced in social housing.
Published on 28 Sep 2009 by P. Tomlinson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Contrary to one of the reviews here, although the characterisation was not superficially distanct that does not entirely matter. Read more
Published on 2 July 2008 by J. Waite
1.0 out of 5 stars
Disjointed and awful
This is one of those movies that goes out of its way to be artsy. The story is about a young boy in Glasgow during a Binmans' strike. Read more
Published on 2 July 2007 by C. Myers
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sensitive portrayal of urban life
This was a sensitive portrayal of urban family life in the 1970s. The characters were for the most part sympathetic. Read more
Published on 12 Oct 2006 by Mrs. S. K. Goffin
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