"Rat Film" is a feature-length documentary that uses the rat--as well as the humans that love them, live with them, and kill them--to explore the history of Baltimore. "There's never been a rat problem in Baltimore, it's always been a people problem." Although this film is excellent, it may be unsettling for some viewers who prefer the lineal, traditional documentary film. This film is not the same old thing, and even the title is rather misleading.
Yes, we have stories about rats in Baltimore, rat catchers, people with rats for pets... and did you happen to know that rat poison came from Baltimore after it could no longer be obtained from Germany? But it also covers the history of segregation in Baltimore and how the system perpetuates itself. Theo Anthony, the director, sees the film as a series of tangents and tangents on tangents that all relate. Viewers may see it, maybe not. Sometimes the tangents get really out of hand... the forensic science sections are fascinating, and are worthy of a look, but how do they relate to rats or any of this?
Yes, we have stories about rats in Baltimore, rat catchers, people with rats for pets... and did you happen to know that rat poison came from Baltimore after it could no longer be obtained from Germany? But it also covers the history of segregation in Baltimore and how the system perpetuates itself. Theo Anthony, the director, sees the film as a series of tangents and tangents on tangents that all relate. Viewers may see it, maybe not. Sometimes the tangents get really out of hand... the forensic science sections are fascinating, and are worthy of a look, but how do they relate to rats or any of this?