Riff-Raff (1991 film)
- Robert Carlyle: Stevie
- Emer McCourt: Susan
- Jim R. Coleman: Shem
- George Moss: Mo
- Ricky Tomlinson: Larry
- David Finch: Kevin
- Richard Belgrave: Kojo
- Ade Sapara: Fiaman
- Derek Young: Desmonde
- Bill Moore: Smurph
- Luke Kelly: Ken Jones
- Garrie J. Lammin: Mick
- Willie Ross: Gus Siddon
- Dean Perry: Wilf
- Dylan O'Mahony: Youth
Riff-Raff is a feature film by the British film director Ken Loach from 1991. As with most films of Ken Loach 's Riff-Raff is a vivid portrait of Britain. Riff-Raff in German means "rabble ". So this black comedy revolves around the dregs of English society and puts the decline of the British working class during Thatcherism brutally frank.
Action
Located this grim comedy is on a construction site in a dreary surroundings on the outskirts of London in the reign of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. This area has a harsh tone. The working conditions are breakneck. Scaffolds are not saved. Due to sheer necessity but to be exploited for a pittance under bad conditions in many of the unemployed. Whether argumentative hotheads, ex- prisoners and illegal immigrants - there is no agreement and no one asks for official papers. All Underdogs are welcome, as you can do with this what you want and do not have to care about safety precautions.
The story revolves around a few such losers. The film tells how they hold each other across the table and still hold together as they cope with bawdy jokes the dreary everyday life, because they never know what tomorrow will bring.
The focus of the film is Stevie, a quiet, hard-working guy who did time for theft in prison and has now been found in London at a non-union construction crew 's work, remodels an old hospital, the Princess of Wales Hospital in luxury apartments. His buddies from the construction call him jokingly "Billy Connolly " ( according to the known IRA member).
Like most of his colleagues is Stevie homeless and find an apartment in a vacant building. His colleague Larry Reilly helps him from building prepare the apartment for him with other workers.
One day Stevie happens to find a lost handbag full of letters, a book and a picture of an attractive young woman. This makes Stevie curious. With the help of the letters he makes the owner locate: the Irish Susan Miles. Stevie is fascinated by her and initially developed a shy love. They both try to escape the misery by their dreams for the future. The eccentric Susan dreams of a career as a pop singer. Stevie wants to make lots of money by selling boxer shorts and socks.
When Susan occurs in a pub, Stevie drags his friends from the site to their concert where they will, however, booed due to their weak voice. Finally enforces Larry ( Ricky Tomlison ), Stevies older friend that the boorish audience applauded Susan. As Susan with their rental payments is in default, it pulls soon at Stevie and decorated the shabby apartment with oriental fabrics and all sorts of kitsch. He hopes that they will one day marry. But the relationship is increasingly put to a severe test, since Susan's dreams of Stevie's vision have little to do with reality. So Stevie tosses her one day at the head: " depression? These are for the middle class. We get up early. " Finally, Stevie discovers that his girlfriend is taking drugs regularly.
The voltages on the site, meanwhile, take on more and more. The construction workers are exploited by the foremen, the site is not secure and the pay is so bad that the men did not give their real names to avoid paying taxes need. Therefore, the black workers need someone to redeem the weekly checks for them at the bank. Although there is an African that will cover up for it, but he wants this five pound commission. The white black workers are outraged that a black man just wants to rip it.
At the same time the construction workers are increasingly concerned about security on the site. Larry, who never takes a mince words, suggests that all trade unions. When he recites the concerns about the safety of the unscrupulous, dishonest boss, he gets fired. Stevie and other construction workers finally avenge themselves on the construction company and put the site on fire.
Criticism
" A grim, but supported by great sympathy for the protagonists comedy about the decline of the British working class. A snapshot from seemingly hopeless times, it argues convincingly, now do not give up. "
" Ken Loach's Felix- winning film could be a social study, commissioned by a commission that investigated the decay of British industrial cities in times of rigorous downsizing. But it is, oddly enough, more of a comedy. A comedy, however, the omitted yuppie charm and party posturing, because it plays on one of the edges dreary London "
" To even still reduce the high jammed frustration stock, Loach accesses a proven solution revolt of the English films of the sixties. It reads: lighting! The construction, as a symbol of social reconstruction ( from a hospital bed to luxury bed) a little labored, has outlived its usefulness. The site is at the end of a single sarcasm, the utopia of brotherhood an impotent revolt. The dream of the rise is just a spark in the fire of destruction. Through the ruins flit to perk up in the first image, the rats. They are bouncy as only being in " RiffRaff " "
Background
Writer Bill Jesse himself was once a construction worker and died during the completion of the film at the age of 48 years. The film is dedicated to him.
Ken Loach dedicated for Riff-Raff only actor who had ever worked in construction. The film was the stepping stone for Robert Carlyle, who later became famous with The Full Monty ( The Full Monty ) (1997 ).
Prices
- FIPRESCI Prize, International Film Festival in Cannes (1991 )
- European Film Award, category " Best Film", Sally Hibbin (Producer ) ( 1991)
- Special Prix Italia, Category "Fiction " (1993)
Nominations
- European Film Award, category "Best Supporting Actor ", Ricky Tomlinson (1991 )
- Goya, category " Best European Film" ( " Mejor Película Europea " ), Ken Roach (1993 )