Ruby and Rata

Originally conceived as a TV series, Gaylene Preston's comedy was a local hit, uplifting recession-era audiences with its tale of resourceful misfits. Ruby (Yvonne Lawley), an 83-year-old trying to dodge a retirement home, rents a room to Rata (Vanessa Rare in her screen debut) — a solo mum with sidelines in music and benefit fraud. Rata's son is into shoplifting, while Simon Barnett plays a hapless yuppie wannabe. Marginalised by the deregulated economy of the 80s and living on their wits, they may just find common cause despite themselves, in this tale from writer Graeme Tetley.

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

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

Key Cast & Crew

Vanessa Rare

As: Rata

Gaylene Preston

Director, Producer, Script Development

Yvonne Lawley

As: Ruby

Robin Laing

Producer

Graeme Tetley

Writer, Original Idea

Heather Bolton

As: Nurse