The Raggedy Rawney (1988)

Intro

A film by Bob Hoskins and Nicole De Wilde, released in 1988.

Running time: 1 hour and 43 minutes

Photos

Overview

Fleeing from the army during wartime, Tom disguises himself as a young woman in the hope of evading capture by his superiors. Upon meeting a band of travellers, he is mistaken for a kind of witch - or 'rawney' - and treated with a mixture of awe and fear by the deeply superstitious group.

Elle and her illegitimate son, Simon, are shunned by many of their fellow travellers, who believe that the boy's disability is punishment for his mother's sins. When the rawney saves Simon from being attacked, Elle takes pity on the strange, silent new addition to the group.

Jessie, the leader Darky's daughter, soon discovers Tom's true identity, with disastrous consequences.

Cast

Dexter Fletcher ... Tom

Jim Carter ... The Soldier

Veronica Clifford ... The Farmer's Wife

Ian McNeice ... The Farmer

Jennifer Platt ... The Little Girl

Gawn Grainger ... The Officer

Bob Hoskins ... Darky

Zoë Wanamaker ... Elle

Timothy Lang ... Simon

Zoë Nathenson ... Jessie

J.G. Devlin ... Jake

Ian Dury ... Weazel

Rosemary Martin ... Becky

Jane Wood ... Vie

Crew

Director: Bob Hoskins
Producer: Bob Weis
Associate Producer: Garth Thomas
Executive Producers: George Harrison and Denis O'Brien
Cinematography: Frank Tidy
Production Designer: Jirí Matolín
Costume Designer: Theodor Pistek
Music: Michael Kamen

Notes

Zoë appears in the film alongside her husband, the actor and writer Gawn Grainger.

As a bleak exploration of the effects of war on a band of travellers, The Raggedy Rawney can be compared to Mother Courage and Her Children, a play in which Zoe appeared in 1984.

Press coverage

The Raggedy Rawney review - Time Out

Merchandise

The Raggedy Rawney Region 1 DVD

The Raggedy Rawney Region 2 DVD

The Raggedy Rawney soundtrack CD