Glasgow, summer of 1973. Ratcatcher captures a fragment of twelve-year-old James’s life. In the working-class neighborhood where he lives, a garbage strike has left the streets overflowing with trash, adding to the already grim environment. When James becomes accidentally involved in a tragic incident, he is too afraid to tell anyone and retreats into his own inner world. In search of distraction, he begins to dream of a better life and finds moments of connection with a handful of eccentric characters from the neighborhood.
This debut film by Lynne Ramsay is shot in a documentary-like style—raw, unsentimental, and laced with dry humor. The result is a poignant and deeply affecting coming-of-age story.