Rita, Sue und Bob dazu… (1987)

Rita, Sue und Bob dazu…: Directed by Alan Clarke. With Michelle Holmes, Siobhan Finneran, George Costigan, Lesley Sharp. Realistic story of working-class Yorkshire life, alternately serious and light-hearted, as two schoolgirls have a sexual fling with a married man.

“Someone has previously posted that this film is about class and social division which is certainly true and one of the many sub-texts of the screenplay. It interests me that reaction to this film also seems to be delineated along class lines and social division. When Iu0026#39;ve mentioned this film in passing to middle-class types they turn their noses up in horror and say this film is so u0026#39;depressingu0026#39;. In contrast, to anyone from a hum-drum town anywhere in the British Isles (in my case Ireland) or inner city working class background, a mention of the film if theyu0026#39;ve seen it, brings on a laugh and smiles of recognition of shared experiences.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHyper-realism may prevail in this film but there are many many reasons to watch it. The most important of which is to be reminded, if one needs reminding, what devastating changes took place during Thatcheru0026#39;s political reign during the 80u0026#39;s. The appalling errosion of social housing and services, and the introduction of the exploitative Youth Training Schemes which paid a pittance to participants. Overcrowded classrooms, and few opportunities to socialise meant teenagers had to make their own fun just like Rita and Sue.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eTo me no other film evokes the 80u0026#39;s like this film, it always brings me out in tears of laughter as I recognise the characters from my own life. Practically every girl in my home town dressed exactly like Rita and Sue, bare legged and white stillettoed. I canu0026#39;t remember any other film that captures the teenage mischieve-ness and innocence of 80u0026#39;s teenagers. That scene where they go to the museum with the other school girls and exiting onto a cobbled Yorkshire street Sue utters the immortal line: u0026#39;..she called me a slag so I hit her!, after assaulting a virgin classmate, is a real hoot. For me the funniest scene is when Rita and Sue start giggling in embarassment as Bob and The Wife start having a barny after returning home after a night on the tiles. (N.B. if Rita and Sue have been hired as babysitters how come we never see the kid theyu0026#39;re babysitting?)u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003enThis film is not depressing. The two main protagonists (Rita and Sue) are finding fun, excitement and adventure (isnu0026#39;t it better to be walking around in cow dung getting fresh air and a u0026#39;jumpu0026#39; from the middle class neighbour in a car than loitering around a dreary housing estate?) as an antidote to their hopeless circumstances. They donu0026#39;t feel anymore more victimised than Bobu0026#39;s wife. They maybe poor and working class; but theyu0026#39;re getting bonked regularly unlike Bobu0026#39;s missus!u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe performances are absolutely sterling, there are no false moves or corny lines. And Lesley Sharp is truly comical as she jumps on Bobu0026#39;s suit and calls him every name under the sun. For me the actor who shines most is Michelle Holmes, and I always love watching her whatever role sheu0026#39;s playing ever since seeing her in this film.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI wish the bourgeois critics could put aside their own prejudices and snobberies and see this film for what it really is. A gritty realistic picture of 80u0026#39;s England and a precursor to the highly successful u0026#39;Full Montyu0026#39;. It is also a great heart warming film for adults that was way ahead of its time when it was being made in the mid 80u0026#39;s. Every time I see it I laugh out loud – if youu0026#39;re ever feeling a bit down, watch this film! It will blow the cobwebs away completely, trust me!u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAs far as Iu0026#39;m concerned this is up there with u0026#39;Brief Encounteru0026#39; as a classic British film. Iu0026#39;m serious!”