Ratcatcher (Lynne Ramsay, 1999)

Ratcatcher (Lynne Ramsay, 1999)
Rating: 9.3

Ratcatcher is told through the eyes of a child living in poverty in Glasgow, 1973 while the Dustmen are on strike. The environment is one of my favorite aspects of the film as garbage bags and disease infested rats pollute the neighborhood. We journey with James as he interacts with his family members and neighbors, discovers sexuality, hopes for a brighter future, and attempts to overcome his own guilt. The narrative and the acting plays pretty naturally and realistic. I believe a lot of nonprofessional actors were used. It's quite an astonishing, poetic, and original debut film from Lynne Ramsay. The Criterion release also includes three of her short films which are impressive as well.

Small Deaths (1996)
Rating: 7.8

This was Lynne Ramsay's graduation film at the National Film and Television School in England and winner of the Jury Prize for Best Short Film at Cannes. The film conveys three different everyday incidents in the life of a girl, each at different ages.

Kill the Day (1996)
Rating: 7.8

A recovering junkie spends his days lying in his flat, remembering dark moments from his childhood, his life as a criminal, and the time he spent in prison.

Gasman (1997)
Rating: 7.8

A father takes his two children along with his two illegitimate children to a Christmas party in this Cannes Jury Prize winning short.