Product Details

• Actors: Alex Aspiazu, Simon Brauer, Marco Bustos, Cristina Dávila, Fabricio Lalama
• Directors: Sebastián Cordero
• Writers: Sebastián Cordero
• Producers: Alfredo Mora Manzano, Conchita Villa, Frankie Hernandez, Isabel Dávalos, Lisandra Rivera
• Format: Color, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Vanguard Cinema
• DVD Release Date: April 17, 2001
• Run Time: 107 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000059XUE
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #101,541 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Ratas, Ratones Rateros" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

The world of salvador a young naive petty thief is about to be shaken with the arrival of his cousin angel an ex-convict in search of easy money. Life in the streets selling drugs & making twisted deals is about to take a toll on salvador as he ends up destroying everything that makes sense in his life. Studio: Vanguard Cinema Release Date: 03/25/2003 Run time: 107 minutes Rating: Nr

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An inmense step for Latin cinema, October 21, 2001

By 

Roberto Campoverde (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ratas, Ratones Rateros (DVD)

This film DOES NOT represent Ecuadorian culture to its best simply becasue this film is not about Ecuadorian culture. It is, with out a doubt, a crude and well done representation of violence and crime in a third world country - the story could very well take place in New York for all we know, and it will still keep its punchline. I liked the film and enjoyed it from the start to the right end. I inmensily enjoyed to see the way the characters were portrayed and the great use of the Ecuadorian slang - something that'll be hard to get from someone who is not from this country and the subtitles do not make any justice to the impacable work that was put to the screenplay either. A great film to see for those who like good independent movies.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Disturbing and Vivid View of Ecuador's Dark Side, October 1, 2002

By 

James L Fortier (St. Charles, MO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ratas, Ratones Rateros (DVD)

Since books were written and traveler's tales recorded, highland Ecuador has had the reputation of being the safe haven of the Andes, a gentle law abiding country that has always been bordered by the thug societies of Colombia to the north, and the oppressive military stronghold of Peru to the south. Times have changed. The roads that once barely made it from Guayaquil to Quito or from Tulcán ,on the Colombian border, to the heart of Quito are now highways that have brought world culture and chaos to this formerly placid country. My memories of innocence and lack of crime in the Quito of the early 70's became so tarnished and changed with my last few recent trips to the capital. This movie embellished my fears and distrust of the seething underbelly of the new Quito. In the movie, the scene that aroused so many memories was the glimpse of the Cumandá bus station, where one of the "rateros" slowly walks up to the sleeping gringo and steals, with a knife, his waist pack. I heard so many times on my last trip to Quito from everyone from taxi drivers to relatives of my fiancée, who was born and raised in Quito, "Times have changed..Be careful". The summer of 2001, we boarded a bus in Quito at the Cumandá Terminal and were met after a short time by a "gentleman" who explained to us on the bus that he had been recently released from prison for robbing a man. He then said that he needed money to stop stealing. His recitation included the remorse that he didn't want to go back to prison but didn't know what he could do to prevent it if no one gave him money. Frightened old ladies gave him coins immediately in the hopes that he would leave and go back to his family in Guayaquil. My fiancée immediately, said "look at him, the "desgraciado" is obviously from Guayaquil". Shortly thereafter we encountered a young "ratero" who entered the bus and pleaded for money because he "was dying". He pulled up his shirt and showed us all his wounds, protruding intestines, and smattering of blood. He apparently had been stabbed and was as pallid as a ghost. This movie, which has scenes more graphic, is true cinema verité and shows the sordid side of the big city that fortunately is uncommon in the smaller towns. There was not an instant of slow time or a moment of boredom in this simple but masterful production. The director said all that I've feared of the underside of Ecuador and did it with haunting but suble scenes. I highly recommend the movie for all that it evokes.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ECUADORIAN CINEMA HAS ARRIVED!, April 5, 2002

By 

Cristian Buitron (Port Washington, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ratas, Ratones Rateros (DVD)

This is a wonderful movie about teenagers growing up in what could be any poor area of any South American country.
I love the use of the Ecuadorian slang, and the differences you encounter between Quito (Highlands) slang and Guayaquil (Coast) slang. The differences between their people as well is made evident through their facial and corporal expressions (Sierra people being more introverted and Coast people being more extroverted.) In reference to the reviewer who wrote that he/she was affraid of going to Ecuador, don't worry. Ecuadorian people are generous, gentle, and kind. I live here in NY now but I was born and raised in Quito, and as I tell all my "Gringo" friends when I show them the movie, that if it is true that there are places or people like the ones depicted on the film, this is not the norm. I showed Ratas Ratones, Rateros to one of my best friends who had never been down to Ecuador and he was scared after seeing the movie, but I told him there was nothing to fear. We went there and he can now confirm that this was probably the best trip he ever took. There is another Ecuadorian film I want to get my hands on, because I heard it was great. The name of this movie is "Sueno en/de la Mitad del Mundo" But if you want to experience a little bit of the beauty of the most peaceful and tranquil country in South America (Ecuador,) rent the movie Proof of Life and enjoy some of the most amazing landscapes you've ever seen. Of course the director of the movie doesn't call my country Ecuador, he calls it the ficticious name of "Tecala" but he decided to shoot there because of the safety for the crew and actors that he probably would have had a hard time finding in any other tumultuous South American country. At the end of the movie check out the amazing aerial view that starts from the Virgin of Quito and spans the length of this amazing city (Quito) located twice as high as Denver! the camera takes you through rainforest, paramo, and it ends at the peak of one of the majestic Andes mountains. As for Ratas, Great job Sebastian!!! Bravo