Year: 1987
Runtime: 93 min
Language: English
Director: Alan Clarke
Two teenage babysitters, Rita and Sue, living in a working-class neighborhood in northern England, become entangled in an affair with their affluent employer, Bob. As Bob's marriage falls apart, the two young women find themselves navigating a complicated and increasingly precarious relationship, blurring the lines between desire and exploitation while seeking an escape from their difficult circumstances.
Get a spoiler-free look at Rita, Sue and Bob Too (1987) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In the grey‑washed suburbs of Bradford, the film settles into a world where drab council houses press up against more polished middle‑class streets, creating a palpable contrast that feels both intimate and unsettling. The everyday sounds of a working‑class community—bustling markets, clattering buses, laughter spilling from cramped kitchens—mix with a lingering sense of yearning for something beyond the soot‑stained walls. A dry, observational humor runs alongside a raw social realism, giving the picture a tone that is simultaneously witty, uneasy, and oddly hopeful.
_ Rita_ and Sue are two teenage girls on the cusp of adulthood, sharing a cramped flat and a friendship forged by shared hardship and an unrelenting desire to escape their circumstances. They take on babysitting work for a seemingly respectable couple, stepping into a home that feels like a different world—cleaner, more spacious, and tinged with the promises of middle‑class stability. Their employer, Bob, is a charismatic but weary man whose own marriage shows signs of strain, and whose presence introduces a ripple of intrigue that disrupts the girls’ routine.
The connection between the three is charged with an uneasy mix of curiosity, attraction, and power imbalance. Bob offers the girls a glimpse of a life beyond their council estate, while Rita and Sue bring a youthful boldness that both excites and unsettles him. Their interactions are laced with a tentative flirtation that hints at deeper complications, setting the stage for a delicate dance of desire and exploitation. The film watches this triangle closely, letting the audience feel the tension that builds in ordinary moments—a shared drink, a lingering glance, a quiet conversation that suggests more than what is said.
As the story unfolds, the stark environment and the characters’ restless ambitions keep the audience poised on the edge of possibility. The film invites viewers to contemplate how far the girls might go to break free from the constraints of their world, and what the cost of such a pursuit could be, all while maintaining a balance between humor and the stark realities of the lives it portrays.
Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 13:40
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Unflinching looks at teenagers pushing boundaries in unforgiving environments.If you liked the raw and risky behavior of the teenagers in Rita, Sue and Bob Too, explore more movies featuring young protagonists navigating dangerous freedoms. These stories often feature a fast pace, chaotic energy, and a dark tone, focusing on characters from working-class backgrounds who challenge social norms.
Stories in this thread typically follow teenagers who, feeling trapped by their socioeconomic or familial situations, engage in risky behaviors as a form of escape or self-assertion. Their journeys are often chaotic and morally ambiguous, exploring the consequences of their actions without offering easy moral judgments.
These movies are grouped together by their shared focus on the volatile and often reckless energy of teenage rebellion, set against bleak, unforgiving backdrops. They share a gritty, raw aesthetic and a confrontational approach to themes of class, sexuality, and power.
Where sharp humor cuts through the grim reality of dysfunctional relationships.Movies like Rita, Sue and Bob Too that use dark comedy to explore the breakdown of relationships and social norms. These films balance a fast pace and high intensity with sharp, situational humor, creating a unique and bracing viewing experience.
Narratives in this thread often involve entangled relationships that spiral into chaos, using comedic moments to highlight the absurdity and tension within serious situations. The plot moves quickly through a series of betrayals and confrontations, leading to an ending that offers no clear resolution, leaving the audience to sit with the moral ambiguity.
These films are connected by their distinct tonal blend: they are fundamentally serious dramas that are punctuated by dark, situational humor. This creates a specific, bracing vibe where laughter is uneasy and the emotional weight remains heavy, making the social commentary more potent.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Rita, Sue and Bob Too in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Rita, Sue and Bob Too is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Read a complete plot summary of Rita, Sue and Bob Too, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
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Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Rita, Sue and Bob Too. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Rita, Sue and Bob Too: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
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Rita, Sue and Bob Too (1987) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
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