Watch Rita, Sue and Bob Too!
- R
- 1987
- 1 hr 33 min
-
6.6 (4,927)
Rita, Sue and Bob Too! is a 1987 British comedy-drama film that tells the story of two teenage girls from a suburban housing estate in Bradford, England, who have a sexual relationship with a married man named Bob. Siobhan Finneran and Michelle Holmes play the two teenage girls, Rita and Sue, respectively, while George Costigan plays Bob.
Set in the 1980s, the story revolves around the lives of Rita and Sue, who become friends while working as babysitters for Bob and his wife Michelle. Bob, who is in his thirties, starts flirting with Rita and Sue, and despite their age difference, the trio engage in a sexual relationship that soon becomes an affair.
As the affair continues, the girls begin to explore their sexuality and learn about relationships, often using Bob as their teacher, and Bob becomes increasingly obsessed with them. However, their secret relationship eventually gets exposed, and their lives take a dramatic turn.
The film deals with themes such as teenage sexuality, infidelity, domestic violence, and working-class life in the UK. It highlights the struggles and challenges faced by young girls from lower-income backgrounds as they navigate their way through life in a society that may not always be supportive of them.
Director Alan Clarke brings a gritty realism to the film, using the bleak backdrop of industrial Bradford to frame the characters and their struggles. The performances by Finneran and Holmes are particularly notable, capturing the vulnerability, naivety, and strength of the two young women.
The film was controversial upon its release due to its explicit content and portrayal of teenage sexuality, but it was also praised for its honesty and authenticity. It received critical acclaim and went on to win the Prix François Chalais at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival.
Rita, Sue and Bob Too! is an important film that offers a raw and candid look at the lives of young women in 1980s Britain. It is a film that is both entertaining and thought-provoking, and it is definitely worth watching for those interested in social realism and authentic storytelling.