James Gillespie is 12 years old. The world he knew is changing. Haunted by a secret, he has become a stranger in his own family. He is drawn to the canal where he creates a world of his own. He finds an awkward tenderness with Margaret Anne, a vulnerable 14 year old expressing a need for love in all the wrong ways, and befriends Kenny, who possesses an unusual innocence in spite of the harsh surroundings.
William Eadie Tommy Flanagan Mandy Matthews Michelle Stewart Lynne Ramsay Jr. Leanne Mullen Jackie Quinn James Ramsay Anne McLean Craig Bonar Andrew McKenna Mick Maharg James Montgomery Thomas McTaggart Stuart Gordon Stephen Sloan Molly Innes Stephen King John Comerford Ann Marie Lafferty Bessie McDonald Leanne Jenkins Dougie Jones Joe McCrone James Watson Stephen Purdon Marion Connell Robert Farrell Donnie McMillan Show All…
Pathé Pictures International BBC Film Holy Cow Films Arts Council of England Les Productions Lazennec Le Studio Canal+
捕鼠器, 쥐잡이, Rottefangeren, Ratcatcher - Acchiappatopi, 捕鼠者, לוכד העכברושים, Rotanpyydystäjä, Råttfångaren, 쥐잡이꾼, Крысолов, Nazwij to snem, Patkányfogó, O Lixo e o Sonho
France
Cannes Film Festival
USA
New York Film Festival (4K Restoration)
USA
UK15
Netherlands6
USANR
Netherlands6
Netherlands6
France
Netherlands
UK
USA
"Well, these conditions speak for themselves. You can't possibly deny that there is a very considerable health risk under which many of the good people of Glasgow are at present living.
There's a risk in the form of decomposition of this material, a risk of fire, a risk of it being spread by rats, which are notorious vectors of disease."
It's difficult for me to write about my very, very favorite films - and this is most certainly one of them - but I'll try.
Ratcatcher is one of the best movies I've ever seen, and here's why (did not intend for the previous two sentences to rhyme):
1. The first scene of the boy spinning in the curtain perfectly…
I lost count on how many rats I saw but I assure you that at least one was caught. Ratcatcher portrays the life of a twelve-year old kid in the 1970s in an hour and a half film. The movie evoked multiple statements in familial relationships, friendships, poverty, dreams, and death in a slow yet chaotic fashion. The distinct realism of the film made it more impactful to me, showing the harsh reality of the past and how lucky I am to not experience any of it. Eadie’s life will make you question a lot of things, for better and for worse. The subtle yet effective way of plot and character building and the astonishing cinematography will make you think of this film for days to come.
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, Ramsay deftly contrasts urban decay with a rich interior landscape of hope and perseverance, resulting in a work at once raw and deeply poetic.
This edition arrives on October 19, 2021. To learn more or pre-order, visit Criterion.com.
Lynne Ramsay understands children. By setting her marvelous debut in Glasgow during the national garbage strike of the mid-1970's, the writer-director ensures that not one of the city's wayward youth has it easy. Many grow up too fast, become sexual deviants, and treat those who refuse to mature at their inappropriately rapid pace as playthings. Such is the case with James, the endearing protagonist, who in spite of all the grime and cruelty of the times is able to look ahead to the future and see a glimmer of hope. There's a scene somewhere in the middle, when little James hops aboard the nearest bus heading straight to the middle of nowhere, that highlights the young man's desire to escape…
It took me 45 minutes to realize they were speaking English I thought they were speaking Dutch or some shit
A truly special little film. It's poetic realism at its best, as it depicts a young boy's simple coming-of-age story in the grim and stinky, garbage and rat infested streets of Glasgow in the 70's with such a poetic, meditative touch. The imagery is breathtaking, I loved the music choices, and every performance feels so natural and real. It's bleak, gritty and melancholic yet somewhat hopeful, and there's so many beautiful shots and moments throughout, but the incredible, foreboding opening shot, and the first little, almost otherworldly scene of James in the field takes the cake for me. Can't believe this was a debut, this is wonderful filmmaking from start to finish. I'm floored by it. THAT SMILE
Oh, damn.
There’s not much I can say except that I didn’t expect the film to be this good. It is lyrical and raw in its depiction of family, childhood, and the aftermath that poverty brings. The imagery and visual elements throughout are compelling and I admire its poetic depiction of gritty realism. The film is a balance between dreamlike sanguinity and subdued desolation where every shot is composed and unhurried. I am now adding Lynne Ramsay to the list of directors I plan to watch more of. I also plan to add this film to a list of movies I absolutely love, but never plan to watch again.
Thank you for this, Cyril!!
Honestly, without our humble film group, I wouldn’t be able to find movies like this.
Sinegang weekly pick #8
Gloomy visual poetry capturing the spirit of the working-class way of life while displaying turmoil through the eyes of an isolated child and the mental processing of one minor act that led to catastrophe. Bleak and often despairing, but loaded with charming image after charming image. This is what I would consider to be pretty much the gold standard of British social realism. I got to see the 4k restoration of this for the 25th anniversary at my local cinema, and it looked absolutely brilliant on the big screen. Lynne Ramsay is brilliant!
Hearts swollen with guilt, minds seeking solace. Children at play amid rodentia-ridden rubbish; scalps of lice and skin tinged with leachate.
Ratcatcher mirrors inner turmoil with that of the environment around us, collocating personal reckoning with a sobering reality within which we all must learn to co-exist. Ramsay employs a visual lyricism so affecting and so pronounced in its proclivity for humility and innocence in a world full of pride and corruption. There is a powerful message residing under the surface of every single frame, and the viewer is leveled with an unparalleled blend of beauty and grit. This juxtaposition is hammered home through the repetition of themes and motifs placed strategically throughout the film, namely the use of the…
Lynne Ramsay's Ratcatcher is a coming-of-age story that follows twelve year old James in the slums of Glasgow during the 70's garbage strike. Brought up in an unhealthy environment, he wants nothing more but an escape to a better life that is free from guilt, trauma, chaos, and poverty.
This is Ramsay's directorial debut and honestly, I'm very impressed. She brilliantly depicts the beauty and fragility of childhood, and also shows us that our exterior environment can have a huge effect on our inner lives. The entire film was poetic, bleak, cruel, realistic, and bittersweet.
sinegang weekly pick #8 by Cy
