Ratcatcher
Synopsis
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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official 25th Anniversary TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2024-03-18
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →William Eadie
James
Tommy Flanagan
Da
Mandy Matthews
Ma
Michelle Stewart
Ellen
Lynne Ramsay Jr.
Anne Marie
Leanne Mullen
Margaret Anne
John Miller
Kenny
Jackie Quinn
Mrs Quinn
James Ramsay
Mr Quinn
Anne McLean
Mrs Fowler
Craig Bonar
Matt Monroe
Andrew McKenna
Billy
Mick Maharg
Stef
James Montgomery
Hammy
Thomas McTaggart
Ryan
Stephen Sloan
Mackie
Molly Innes
Miss McDonald
Stephen King
Mr Mohan
Release History & Theatrical Window
Toronto International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
October 13, 2000
Wide Cinema Exhibition
November 28, 2000
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Lynne Ramsay
- Screenplay & Story
- Lynne Ramsay
- Original Score
- Rachel Portman
- Original Title
- Ratcatcher
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom, France
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 34m
- Production Studios
- Pathé, BBC Film, Arts Council of England, Les Productions Lazennec, Le Studio Canal+, Holy Cow Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Lynne Ramsay
Lynne Ramsay
Rachel Portman
Alwin H. Küchler
Lucia Zucchetti
Andrea Calderwood, Gavin Emerson, Bertrand Faivre, Sarah Radclyffe, Barbara McKissack
Department Leadership Roster
Lynne Ramsay
Director
Lynne Ramsay
Writer
Gavin Emerson
Producer
Bertrand Faivre
Producer
Rachel Portman
Original Music Composer
Alwin H. Küchler
Director of Photography
Lucia Zucchetti
Editor
Jane Morton
Production Design
Gill Horn
Costume Design
Steven Begg
Visual Effects Supervisor
Paul Heasman
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Ratcatcher.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Ratcatcher.
Movie Collection
TSPDT - 1000 Greatest Films
They Shoot Pictures, Don't They? (TSPDT) - The 1,000 Greatest Films. A definitive meta-list aggregating thousands of critics' polls, historical rankings, and director top 10s to represent the ultimate critical consensus in cinema history. TSPDT 影史最伟大的1000部电影： 全球最权威的电影元榜单，由该网站汇总世界各大电影刊物历史评选结果及数千名影评人、学者的个人十佳榜单，通过算法加权计算得出的终极共识。 *片单说明：* 本片单只收录纯电影，以下剧集或迷你剧不予收录： • [#335] Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) • [#514] Twin Peaks: The Return (2017) • [#614] Edvard Munch (1974) • [#703] The Sorrow and the Pity (1969) • [#890] Elephant (1989) • [#925] Heimat (1984) • [#968] Doomed Love (1978) 以下作品在 TMDB 被拆分为多个独立电影条目；本片单按作品/章节顺序连续收录，且每个分拆条目均沿用同一 TSPDT 名次： • [#171] Dekalog (1989) — 展开为 10 部电影 • [#988] Olympia (1938) — 展开为 2 部电影 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:30:01 UTC+8)*
Criterion Collection
The Complete Criterion Collection. The Criterion Collection is a video distribution company that sells 'important classic and contemporary films' in editions that offer the highest technical quality. This list contains only the featured films released on DVD, BluRay and 4K Criterion releases — no supplements are included. Organized by spine number with the newest releases first. CC标准收藏完整收录版： 收录标准收藏（Criterion Collection）发行的重要经典及当代电影。仅包含正片（涵盖 DVD、蓝光及 4K 版本），已排除花絮补充内容。按 CC 发行编号倒序排列（最新发行在前）。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#214] Mangrove (2020) • [#215] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#216] Red, White and Blue (2020) • [#217] Alex Wheatle (2020) • [#486] Eight Hours Don’t Make a Day (1972) • [#647] Dekalog (1989) • [#944] World on a Wire (1973) • [#1187] Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) • [#1338] Fanny and Alexander (1984) • [#1341] Tanner '88 (1988) • [#1371] Scenes from a Marriage (1973) *注：以下影片因 TMDB 尚未收录，暂不在此片单中展示：* • [#531] First (2012) • [#1699] Ulysse (1983) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-11 07:39:08 UTC+8)*
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ratcatcher
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Ratcatcher about?
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.
Who directed Ratcatcher?
Ratcatcher was directed by Lynne Ramsay.
Who stars in Ratcatcher?
The principal cast of Ratcatcher includes William Eadie, Tommy Flanagan, Mandy Matthews, Michelle Stewart, Lynne Ramsay Jr..
When was Ratcatcher released and how long is it?
Ratcatcher was released in 1999 with a total runtime of 1h 34m.
Who composed the musical score for Ratcatcher?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Ratcatcher was composed by Rachel Portman.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Ratcatcher?
Ratcatcher holds official age classifications: GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).