The Walker Art Center presents Lynne Ramsay. Rough and Tumble, part of the Walker’s In Context program, from February 10 to 15. Six of Ramsay’s films will be screened as part of the series.
Breaking onto the scene at age 30 with the riveting Ratcatcher, praised by the New York Times as a “brilliant directorial debut,” Scottish filmmaker Lynne Ramsay has received worldwide attention for the three features now under her belt. Born in Glasgow, Ramsay first studied photography, then focused on cinematography at England’s National Film and Television School; her subsequent filmography is renowned for its bold visual sensibility. Her final school project, Small Deaths, went on to win the Best Short Film prize at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival (as did her third short, Gasman). In fact, each of her features has premiered at Cannes, and she garnered a Palm D’Or nomination at the 2011 festival for her latest work, the haunting We Need to Talk About Kevin.
Ramsay’s films plumb the depths of childhood and young adulthood, unblinkingly tackling such difficult issues as grief, guilt, family dynamics, and the rippling repercussions of death. The “rough and tumble” moniker of this series articulates a defining quality of Ramsay’s: social realism that hits hard and hits home. But her work is also filled with vivid artistry and a rich poetry that blurs the line between dreams and reality—at turns both brutal and subtle.
Tickets to each film are $8 ($6 Walker members and students with valid ID) and are available at walkerart.org/tickets or by calling 612-375-7600. The Cinephile’s Package offers admission to all of the films in the series for $15 ($12).