Riff-Raff

7
1991 1 hr 35 min Drama , Comedy

Stevie, fresh from prison in Scotland, finds a job on a London construction site. The working conditions are poor and most of the men are working under aliases, due to immigration status and to not conflict with their "signing on" for unemployment benefits. Some coworkers help Stevie secure housing, squatting in a council estate. Then Stevie meets Susan, from Ireland, who's struggling to be a professional singer.

  • Cast:
    Robert Carlyle , Emer McCourt , Ricky Tomlinson , Peter Mullan , Willie Ross , Gary Lammin , Maureen Carr

Similar titles

Let There Be Light
Let There Be Light
Milan, a Slovak working in Germany as a bricklayer, returns home to celebrate Christmas with his wife and three children, one of whom appears to be involved in suspicious activities related to an extremist organization.
Let There Be Light 2019
Dreaming Nicaragua
Dreaming Nicaragua
DREAMING NICARAGUA is a film about HOPE. It's about love for the dignity and courage of the human spirit that, even immersed in uttermost tragic conditions, fights for a better life, and in this case, with a friendly SMILE. DREAMING is a sensitive and lyrical portrayal of four children living in extreme poverty in Nicaragua. The film takes us beyond their hardships and gives voice to the youngsters, who are surprisingly funny, hopeful, and optimistic. A traveling art teacher provides a safe arena for our four unlikely protagonists to express their innermost thoughts. When painting, the kids momentarily escape the stresses of their reality into a world of dreams and ideas, a stark contrast to their lives outside: a vicious cycle of hunger, child labor, and violence. Despite the extreme circumstances, the children and their families face their lives with an inspiring unity, strength and humor.
Dreaming Nicaragua 2010
The Street Player
The Street Player
Fares, a shoe factory worker, has only one passion in life: football. He lives a humble life in a chaotic neighborhood where he plays street football to increase his income. However, neither his marriage nor his job is stable enough. He goes through a lot of problems due to his lack of self-discipline with his divorced wife and his son.
The Street Player 1983
The Breadwinner
The Breadwinner
A headstrong young girl in Afghanistan, ruled by the Taliban, disguises herself as a boy in order to provide for her family.
The Breadwinner 2017
My Own Private Idaho
My Own Private Idaho
In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henry IV," Mike Waters is a hustler afflicted with narcolepsy. Scott Favor is the rebellious son of a mayor. Together, the two travel from Portland, Oregon to Idaho and finally to the coast of Italy in a quest to find Mike's estranged mother. Along the way they turn tricks for money and drugs, eventually attracting the attention of a wealthy benefactor and sexual deviant.
My Own Private Idaho 1991
Monster
Monster
An emotionally scarred highway drifter shoots a sadistic trick who rapes her, and ultimately becomes America's first female serial killer.
Monster 2003
Hidden Away
Hidden Away
The film tackles the life journey of Toni Ligabue, visionary naïf painter who used to draw tigers, lions and jaguars while living among the poplar trees of the boundless Po valley. A harsh life that is a fairy tale too, as a lonely and marginalized kid finds redemption in his art, and a way to express himself and be admired by the world.
Hidden Away 2020
Greed
Greed
A lottery win of $5,000 forever changes the lives of a miner turned dentist and his wife.
Greed 1924

Reviews

Cubussoli
1993/02/12

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

... more
Exoticalot
1993/02/13

People are voting emotionally.

... more
Brainsbell
1993/02/14

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

... more
Mandeep Tyson
1993/02/15

The acting in this movie is really good.

... more
sparkss-11610
1993/02/16

Well what can I say? this film is appalling, the acting is putrid(particularly the Irish character who appears to forget her characters role mid way through the film) apart from Robert Carlyle as the Scottish character is quite good among other smaller big name roles who then made a name for themselves either prior or afterwards otherwise this movie is terrible with major plot-points not being revealed, unnecessary scenes, bad gags and bad script-writing as if they just improvised. Besides to that it was wrote in memory of some one if this was made in tribute of me, I must have really been hated or a terrible script- writer if this was the fruit of my labour! All in all I think my review is suitable for a film of this caliber Q.E.D

... more
FlashCallahan
1993/02/17

Loach has once again made a film about working class Britain, and filled it full of humour and heart.But as always with his films, soon after the humour comes a lot of pain, and even at the beginning when the two lovers meet, it's under depressing circumstances, and the relationship between them never really gets any better.Loach always manages to get great performances from all of his cast, and special mentions to Carlyle and Tomlinson, for putting in some very respectable performances. But the issue here is the class struggle, hence the title and the killing of the rats. To other classes, is this demographic of people classed as rats?The film asks a lot of questions, and thanks to the bleakness of the film and the settings, a lot of i is justified. But then Loach shows us that we are all the same when it comes to the bottom line, and no amount of scaffolding can change that.It packs a punch, but it's so full of rich humour and characters, the bleakness is almost lifted.

... more
Sally Hodders
1993/02/18

This is a good film but what is great about it truly is the acting. I agree with the other poster here that the acting is phenomenal and the main actors in this movie truly shine as though they really are the characters they are playing in this film, 100% believable in their roles. Big congrats to the cast of this one for their great work. I only saw this by happenstance because my friend taped it on a cable channel years ago by mistake and we were looking for a tape to record a show while we were out and I said not to tape over this because it looked interesting, how about that? It's about the working class in England and seems to be very realistic about these hard working people who sometimes have very dangerous jobs they simply don't have any other choice of making a living. I am surprised never to have heard of this movie before but if you get a chance to watch it I would say check it out for sure if you are a fan of good acting :)

... more
mvassa71
1993/02/19

This unpretentious British indie film is a rough diamond in the rough. It chronicles the lives of a handful of blue collar workers trying to survive in early 90's London. It's almost documentary in style and narrative, which lends a feeling of authenticity, which is helped also by fine performances all around. Shows the humor, frustration and dashed dreams in an unforgiving society, and it has heart. It is at times funny, heart wrenching, and touching. The accents are thick, so you may appreciate the subtitles that are on some versions. I found them distracting, so I put some tape over the bottom of the screen. I had to strain a few times to understand, but I don't think the subtitles were necessary. Well worth a watch.

... more

Watch Free Now