Independent Films, Film Profiles

Ratcatcher (film)

Ratcatcher is a 1999 film written and directed by Lynne Ramsay. It is her debut feature film. The film tells the story of James, a 12-year-old boy living in an impoverished 1970s Scottish housing estate, whose friend is accidentally drowned while they are playing.Ratcatcher is an often overlooked film that never achieved a wider audience. It was accepted into the elite Criterion Collection due to its quality. The review website, Crossover Guide says, "The scene where he climbs out of a window of a newly built house and runs across a field is simply captivating, marking the highlight of a truly beautiful British film."