Name: Mrs. Ratcliffe's Revolution
Genre: Comedy, True Story & Biography
Released: 2008
Duration: T1H42M
Cast: Catherine Tate, Iain Glen, Brittany Ashworth, Heike Makatsch, Jessica Barden

Trailer

Based on a true story, this is the madcap adventure of a dysfunctional family from Bingley in Yorkshire who defect to East Germany in 1968. The father, Frank Ratcliffe (Iain Glen), is a teacher and the leader of Bingley’s communist party, and feels that his family would benefit from some time in what he imagines to be a Marxist utopia. When they get there, however, things are not as rosy as they had expected.

Frank’s family includes seventeen-year-old Alex, cool and sexy; eleven-year-old Mary, Bingley’s youngest communist; and his wife Dorothy (Catherine Tate), a typical British housewife. The adventure begins when Dorothy befriends a boy called Otto, and helps him escape to the West.

2008Rating: M, Low level offensive language102 minsUK

ComedyTrue Story & Biography

All Reviews (6)

Director:: Bille Eltringham (TV's 'The L Word')
Writer:: Bridget O'ConnorPeter Straughan
Cast:: Catherine TateIain GlenBrittany AshworthHeike MakatschJessica BardenChristian Brassington

Mrs. Ratcliffe's Revolution / Reviews

Flicks, Team

They don't make films like this anymore. Well, obviously they do, because they made this one, but this kind of farcical, cartoonish British comedy is rarely seen these days except for in archaic sitcom re-runs and Wallace & Gromit animations. You half expect a bra-less Barbara Windsor to come jiggling round the corner shrieking "Ooh, saucy!" at any moment.

Full review

The Guardian

Inept British comedy.

Full review

Empire Magazine

If you’re looking for a film about life in Communist East Germany, go rent The Lives Of Others. But this is still one of the better British comedies we’ve seen this year, and worthy of the inevitable comparisons to Good Bye Lenin!

Full review

Christchurch Press

Co-writers Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan mine the rich vein of humour in the fish-out-of-water premise but struggle to come up with anything truly startling (the slapstick humour consists mostly of slaps).

Full review

BBC

As the titular housewife in Mrs Ratcliffe's Revolution, comedienne Catherine Tate bears the weight of the world on her shoulders. Given that it's her first major leading role, she plays it up convincingly for this refreshing comedy drama (supposedly true) that sees the meek Mrs Dorothy Ratcliffe transform into a floral-clad freedom fighter under the oppressive East German regime in the 60s. Although the plot frays slightly at the edges, it all comes together eventually.

Full review