The Raggedy Rawney

The Raggedy Rawney
Directed byBob Hoskins
Written by
  • Bob Hoskins
  • Nicole de Wilde
Starring
CinematographyFrank Tidy
Edited byAlan Jones
Music byMichael Kamen
Production
companies
Distributed byIsland
Release date
  • June 30, 1989 (1989-06-30)
(UK)
Running time
103 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget$5 million[1]

The Raggedy Rawney is a 1988 British drama film starring Bob Hoskins, Dexter Fletcher, Zoe Nathenson, and Zoë Wanamaker. The story is about a young army deserter (Fletcher) in an unspecified time and country, who disguises himself as a madwoman and joins a nomadic gypsy caravan. The film involves the themes of the destruction and futility of war, the culture of the Romani people, and the bonds generated by love and family. The film was also co-written and directed by Bob Hoskins. Musician Ian Dury has a small role as a character named Weazel. The movie marked Hoskins' debut as a director.

The film was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival.[2]

Plot

The film centres around the character of Tom, a young army recruit in an unnamed time and country (presumably World War II-era Eastern Europe) who deserts after an artillery barrage kills his sergeant, in the process blinding a sadistic officer who tries to stop him. He is shell-shocked into muteness and takes refuge with a travelling gypsy caravan, led by Darky (Hoskins). Among the principal members of the clan are Darky's mentally disabled son, Simon, Simon's mother Elle (Wanamaker) who harbours a grudge against Darky, and Darky's only daughter, Jessie (Nathenson), who forms a romantic bond with Tom, eventually becoming pregnant by him. In order to avoid arrest and execution by the army, Tom disguises himself as a "rawney", described in the film as a kind of "magic" madwoman, who (in the gypsy culture) is able to see the future and can control animals. Frightened at first, Darky befriends the "rawney", thinking him or her to be good luck, but soon Darky is revealed to be a flawed leader, unable to protect his clan from war, and beset by family turmoil which is exacerbated by Tom's presence. Throughout the film, the army and the partially blinded officer is a menace, threatening the gypsies' way of life and those who befriend them. In a moving finale, the army corners the gypsy clan, who manage to hold them off with meagre rifles and pistols long enough to enable the young members of the clan, including Tom and Jessie, to escape, at the cost of their own lives.

Cast

Producer

Hoskins was in Australia making The Dunera Boys for Bob Weis when he told Weis the idea for the film, which was based on an old Romani legend about a deserter who was so shell shocked by war he dressed as a woman. "It's a tale my gran used to tell me," said Hoskins.[3] Weis was enthusiastic and said he would produce it if Hoskins would write the script and direct. Hoskins had directed in theatre but not in film.[1]

Hoskins wrote the script with the writer Nicole de Wilde. "She really took off on the idea," said Hoskins. "I wanted to direct it myself as I had a very clear view of how it should look.[4]

Finance was raised from HandMade Films, who had made three films with Hoskins, The Long Good Friday, Mona Lisa and The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne.[5]

"I wanted to make an anti war film that didn't explore the sensationalism of war," said Hoskins. "I simply don't believe in war."[6]

Hoskins cast Dexter Fletcher in the lead; the latter had played a small role in The Long Good Friday. Fletcher's two brothers and girlfriend also appeared in the movie.[7] "Basically I got a lot of old mates together," said Hoskins. "The story had to be deeply felt and I wanted to be sure everybody felt the same way about it as I did. I think it shows in the final film."[4]

Filming took place in Czechoslavakia over ten weeks.[7] Hoskins claimed it came in £170,000 under budget.[4]

Release

The movie was to be released by Cannon in January 1989 but this was delayed by HandMade's legal suit against Cannon relating to non-payment of fees on other HandMade titles. (This also affected the release The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne.)[8] The movie did not come out until July 1989.[4]

Hoskins was so exhausted after making the film he had a nervous breakdown took a year off.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Thomas, Bob (9 June 1990). "Hoskins isn't too keen on directing". Telegraph-Forum. p. 12.
  2. ^ "Festival de Cannes: The Raggedy Rawneyt". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 31 July 2009.
  3. ^ "Bob goes Wallop". Evening Standard. 3 May 1985. p. 30.
  4. ^ a b c d e Owen, Michael (23 June 1989). "Bob's new direction". Evening Standard. p. 22.
  5. ^ Vagg, Stephen (2 January 2026). "Forgotten British Moguls: Denis O'Brien". Filmink. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  6. ^ "Just the job for Bob". The Guardian. 5 January 1989. p. 24.
  7. ^ a b "Babyface grows up". The Independent. 9 June 1989. p. 28.
  8. ^ Walker, Alexander (11 November 1988). "Cannon bans Hoskins film". Evening Standard. p. 5.
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