Ruby and Rata

This Gaylene Preston comedy was a Kiwi hit, uplifting recession-era audiences with its tale of resourceful misfits living by their wits. Ruby (Yvonne Lawley), an 83-year-old trying to dodge a retirement home, rents her downstairs flat to Rata (Vanessa Rare, in her screen debut) — a solo mum with sidelines in music and benefit fraud. Rata's son is into shoplifting and fires, and What Now?'s Simon Barnett plays a hapless yuppie wannabe. In this excerpt, Ruby meets Rata — plus unexpected guests. Marginalised by market forces, the trio may find common cause despite themselves. Graeme Tetley (Vigil) wrote the script.

Ruby and Rata is a 110-minute riposte to anyone who claims that New Zealand cinema is dour and grim.

– Author Hamish McDouall, in his 2009 book 100 Essential New Zealand Films

Key Cast & Crew

Vanessa Rare

As: Rata

Graeme Tetley

Writer, Original Idea

Simon Barnett

As: Buckle

Yvonne Lawley

As: Ruby

Lee Mete-Kingi

As: Willie

Gaylene Preston

Director, Co-Producer, Script Development