Director: Ken Loach
Cast: Sandy Ratcliff, Bill Dean, Grace Cave, Malcolm Tierney
Synopsis
Sandy Ratcliff (Hussy), Bill Dean (Gumshoe), and Malcolm Tierney (McVicar) lead the cast of Family
Life, a powerful drama from acclaimed director Ken Loach (Fatherland, Carla’s Song).
When rebellious Janice (Ratcliff) becomes pregnant, her controlling parents insist she has an
abortion in order to avoid a scandal, causing Janice to suffer a schizophrenic episode which is
exacerbated by the medical treatment she receives.
Produced by Tony Garnett (Prostitute) and adapted by David Mercer (90° in the Shade) from their
acclaimed R D Laing-influenced BBC TV drama ‘In Two Minds’, Family Life is a heartbreaking and
searing indictment of familial hostility and institutional indifference.
INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES
• High Definition remaster
• Original mono audio
• Interview with Jack Klaff (2024): the stage and screen actor remembers Sandy Ratcliff, the star of
Family Life
• The BEHP Interview with Tony Garnett (2007): archival video interview, made as part of the
British Entertainment History Project, featuring the producer, director and long-time Ken Loach
collaborator in conversation with Darrol Blake and John Sealey
• Looking East (2024): British and central-eastern European film specialist Michael Brooke on the
rare overlaps between those cultures, including links between Ken Loach, Miloš Forman and
Krzysztof Kieślowski.
• Original theatrical trailer
• Image gallery: promotional and publicity materials
• New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Limited edition exclusive book with a new essay by Rachel Pronger, archival cast and crew
interviews, an in-depth look at Ken Loach and David Mercer’s original television play and Family
Life, comparing the differences and developments in the context of R D Laing and the anti-
psychiatry movement, and film credits
• World premiere on Blu-ray
• Limited edition of 3,000 units for the US
All extras subject to change
