edward's drive-in

ratcatcher by scottish directer lynne ramsey seems like it might be one of those too real british films about a down and out area of the inner city. it's got the hard to understand accents, the filth, the drinking father, the too understanding mother and the strangely good-looking children. as the film goes on though it continues to surprise you with odd images and unexpected turns in the story. there's even a very surreal sequence that may not fit in the film and yet I can't imagine the film without it after seeing it. a few sappy moments threaten to take the story down, but it survives. what you are left with later are some really beautiful scenes in this very depressing place. most of these scenes involve child actors who are ridiculously good. thinking about it now, I'm struck by the way children can seem both crueler and sweeter than adults in equal amounts.