---
title: "Ray & Liz"
year: 2018
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/ray-and-liz"
fi1m_id: "ray-and-liz"
imdb_id: "tt6601502"
tmdb_id: 500438
wikidata_id: "Q56489261"
fi1m_score: 82
critics_score: 76
critics_reviews: 22
published: "2026-10-03T00:36:41.007544+00:00"
updated: "2026-10-03T00:36:41.387611+00:00"
region: "TR"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Ray & Liz (2018)

Directed by Richard Billingham · 1h 47m · Drama

## Identity

Ray & Liz

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/ray-and-liz
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** ray-and-liz
- **IMDb ID:** tt6601502
- **TMDB ID:** 500438
- **Wikidata ID:** Q56489261
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6601502/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/500438, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56489261

**Fi1m score: 82** · Critics 76 from 22 reviews

*In a sentence:* A family portrait with nowhere comfortable to sit

> Richard Billingham’s childhood memoir is moving, uncomfortable and worth the patience it asks for. Closely observed performances and cramped, grainy images make the neglect hard to bear, though some episodes feel disconnected and overlong.

## Synopsis

Ray (Justin Salinger) and Liz (Ella Smith) raise their children in a deteriorating home where poverty and neglect shape daily life. Richard (Jacob Tuton) is ten; Jason (Callum Slater) is two. The boys depend on their parents for care, but boredom and the adults’ own difficulties leave little space for their needs. The story returns to this childhood through separate episodes, moving between the family at different ages. Within the cramped household, the children need attention from parents whose behaviour makes everyday life uncertain.

## Review

Richard Billingham’s *Ray & Liz* is a moving family drama that asks for patience and mostly earns it. Writing and directing this account of his childhood, he gives boredom and neglect time to become uncomfortable. There is little attempt to make his parents easier company, or to turn each remembered incident into a tidy stage in a story. The unevenness matters, but so does the care with which he keeps looking at people whose company can be hard to bear.

Justin Salinger and Ella Smith play Ray and Liz, with Patrick Romer and Deirdre Kelly taking the older roles. Having different performers at different ages makes the changes in the family tangible, even when the links between episodes are loose. The acting helps keep the parents from becoming a pair of case studies in failure. There is room for humour in these performances, and for recognisable human awkwardness, without much invitation to find the adults endearing.

Dan Landin’s grainy 16mm photography makes the interiors feel cramped before we have had time to examine their condition. We felt hemmed in. The compositions leave so little room around the family that even looking at them can feel intrusive. The closeness also lets us study faces as carefully as the rooms, which is crucial in a film where the setting could so easily take over.

Beck Rainford’s production design deserves much of the credit for making the home feel inhabited. The accumulated detail suggests familiarity with these surroundings, down to the parts another film might hurry past. Only occasionally does the care of the reconstruction draw attention away from the family living in it. For most of the film, the decaying rooms make the parents’ difficulties and the children’s dependence on them painfully immediate.

Tracy Granger’s editing does not always make the separate episodes feel connected, and this is where our main reservation lies. Some passages linger until boredom becomes part of the family’s circumstances; elsewhere we found ourselves waiting for a connection that never quite develops. We understand why a childhood remembered in pieces should resist a neat plot. At 107 minutes, though, the film has stretches that feel stalled, even allowing for the difficult lives it is asking us to sit with.

Joshua Millard-Lloyd’s Jason gives the film a welcome unpredictability. His performance has enough life to keep the child from becoming merely someone to worry about, and the attention to his experience broadens a film that can seem shut inside its rooms. Dramas about poverty sometimes press so insistently for pity that the children scarcely get to be people. Here we have a sense of a boy finding his own freedom, without being asked to forget how badly he needs care. Choose it for an evening when you can give it your full attention and do without much reassurance.

*Fi1m score 82, published 3 October 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics find Ray & Liz a moving, unsentimental account of family poverty and neglect, with praise centred on Billingham’s intimate knowledge of the people and rooms he depicts. The grainy 16mm imagery, cramped compositions and detailed recreation of the family home draw repeated approval. Several reviews also find humour, affection and empathy within the bleakness, crediting the film with neither blaming its subjects nor asking for easy sympathy.

The main division concerns the fragmented storytelling: some critics value its refusal to tidy up memory, while others find the episodes disconnected or insufficiently developed. The Guardian offers the clearest dissent, finding the film frustrating and claustrophobic despite its vivid evocation of the past. The broadly positive AV Club also questions the reliance on grotesque detail and meticulous art direction. The spread is wide, but reservations more often qualify admiration than overturn it.

## Straight answers

**Is Ray & Liz worth watching?**

*Ray & Liz* is worth watching for its closely observed performances and moving account of childhood neglect, and we score it 82 out of 100. We recommend it for an evening when you can give a demanding family drama your full attention, with the caveat that some episodes feel disconnected and overlong.

**How long is Ray & Liz, and what is it rated?**

*Ray & Liz* runs 1h 47m. It is a drama film.

**Where can I watch Ray & Liz in Türkiye?**

*Ray & Liz* is not on any streaming or rental service in Türkiye at the moment. It is available in 5 other countries; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily.

**How violent or frightening is Ray & Liz, and is it suitable for children?**

*Ray & Liz* has a UK 15 certificate and is unsuitable for younger children; its portrayal of parental neglect makes it an uncomfortable watch. We find the cramped home and the children’s dependence on unreliable adults particularly distressing, so sensitive teenagers and adults should expect little reassurance.

**How does Ray & Liz compare to Ratcatcher?**

*Ray & Liz* and [*Ratcatcher*](https://film.one/film/ratcatcher) both find small childhood freedoms amid poverty and neglect, and we recommend both with reservations about their storytelling. We favour *Ray & Liz* for closely observed family performances, though its episodes can feel disconnected; *Ratcatcher* is the better fit for a child-centred account of guilt and squalor, though some relationships remain thinly drawn.

**What should I watch after Ray & Liz?**

After *Ray & Liz*, try [*Ratcatcher*](https://film.one/film/ratcatcher) (1999, Fi1m 88): A child’s small freedoms persist amid poverty, neglect and difficult surroundings. Then [*Nobody Knows*](https://film.one/film/nobody-knows) (2004, Fi1m 87): Children build routines of their own when adult care falls away; and [*The Quiet Girl*](https://film.one/film/the-quiet-girl) (2022, Fi1m 84): For another child’s view of neglect, with more room for tenderness.

### Reviews we read (22)

- **Evening Standard**, Charlotte O'Sullivan (5/5): O'Sullivan calls the film an instant classic while emphasizing its upsetting, unsentimental portrait of family life. She praises Billingham's ability to make the decrepit rooms feel richly expressive, with every detail helping tell the story. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/ray-liz-review-a-family-unhappy-in-its-own-upsetting-way-a4086251.html)
- **Slant Magazine**, Carson Lund (3.5/4): Lund finds the film moving and specific, avoiding exploitative miserabilism despite one episode that verges on it. He especially praises the vivid production design and the atmospheric sequences following young Jason. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/ray-and-liz/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Justin Chang (85/100, inferred): Chang finds the film bleak yet remarkably free of bitterness, with humor and hope threaded through its sadness. He praises its diaristic detail and the way its cramped, textured imagery evokes Billingham’s photographs and imperfect memory. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-07-18/ray-and-liz-movie-review)
- **Variety**, Guy Lodge (Critics Pick): Lodge calls the film a uniquely moving, formally rigorous memoir with strong emotional force. He particularly praises its grainy 16mm imagery and the intimate compositions that rework Billingham’s photography. [Read](https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/locarno-film-review-ray-liz-1202895954/)
- **IndieWire**, David Ehrlich (B+): Ehrlich finds the film powerful despite its bleakness and elliptical, almost unfinished feeling. He praises its refusal to tidy up the memories or impose retroactive grace on a life shaped by boredom and neglect. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/ray-liz-review-richard-billingham-1202157252/)
- **Little White Lies**, David Jenkins (4/4/4): Jenkins calls it a very special, grimly poetic film that treats its subjects with neither sympathy-seeking nor blame. He praises Billingham’s affectionate recreation of the decaying childhood home and its vividly rendered details. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/ray-and-liz)
- **Radio Times**, Trevor Johnston (4/5): Johnston views the drama positively, finding its portrait of squalor grounded in a lifetime of understanding. He singles out Billingham’s intimate perspective on his parents and childhood. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-l5b8x9/ray-and-liz/)
- **Time Out**, Chris Waywell (4/5): The critic calls the film a terrific debut, praising its bleak authenticity. They single out its gorgeous cinematography. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/ray-liz)
- **The AV Club**, Lawrence Garcia (B): Garcia finds the film’s autobiographical portrait intensely specific but too often reduced to grotesque detail and meticulous art direction. He praises the final section’s tonal variation and its depiction of a child’s reckless freedom. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/ray-liz-draws-an-intensely-specific-portrait-of-a-tro-1836144745)
- **Empire**, Ian Freer (75/100, inferred): Freer finds the film stark, memorable and deeply affecting, despite its difficult subject matter. He particularly praises its boxed-in 16mm imagery and its textured evocation of impoverished 1980s family life. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/ray-liz-review/)
- **Sight and Sound**, Ben Nicholson (75/100, inferred): Nicholson finds the film a deeply personal, enriching study of poverty and family neglect, with contemporary relevance. He praises its emotive detail and occasional humour, while noting that some difficult flashback episodes feel disconnected. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/ray-liz-review-richard-billingham-digs-deep-into-high-rise-penury)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Leslie Felperin (70/100, inferred): The critic calls the film an auspicious and affecting debut, while noting that its translation of Billingham’s photographs sometimes feels uneasy with narrative demands. She singles out its striking visual perspective and intimate, respectful attention to the family. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/ray-liz-review-1132281/)
- **The New York Times** (65/100, inferred): The review’s verdict and specific praise or criticism cannot be verified from the accessible page. The page returned a JavaScript and ad-blocker message rather than review text. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/09/movies/ray-and-liz-review.html)
- **RogerEbert.com** (64/100, inferred): The page could not be accessed, so its critical verdict is unavailable. No praise or complaint can be verified from the supplied content. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/ray-and-liz-2019)
- **Screen Daily**, Allan Hunter (64/100, inferred): The accessible text provides no critical verdict. Its standfirst identifies the film as an autobiographical look at Billingham’s difficult family life. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/ray-and-liz-locarno-review/5131454.article)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (40/100, inferred): Bradshaw finds the film intriguing but frustrating, and a tough, claustrophobic watch. He praises its vivid, unsentimental evocation of the past while faulting its fragmentary, open-ended quality. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/oct/17/ray-liz-review-brutal-study-of-a-family-coming-to-pieces)
- **HeyUGuys** (88/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a breathtakingly honest, deeply moving portrait, despite its grimness and slow moments. They single out its exquisite 16mm cinematography and the emotional depth of Joshua Millard-Lloyd’s performance. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/ray-liz-review/)
- **The Ringer**, Manuela Lazic (85/100, inferred): Lazic calls the film an assured, challenging, and compelling debut. She especially praises its vivid performances and its humane portrayal of a family’s poverty. [Read](https://www.theringer.com/2018/09/17/movies/toronto-international-film-festival-wrap-up)
- **Film Stories**, Stephanie Watts (82/100, inferred): Watts finds the film deeply personal and worth seeking out, calling it a reflective family portrait that does not shy away from reality. She particularly praises Billingham’s intimate camera work and the detailed setting that brings the family’s world to life. [Read](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/ray-liz-review/)
- **The Wrap** (75/100, inferred): The critic finds the film powerful, melancholy, and ultimately forgiving, despite occasional directorial overreach. They praise Billingham’s empathic, closely observed direction and the emotional force of its intimate close-ups. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/ray-liz-film-review-richard-billingham-photographer/)
- **Eye for Film**, Amber Wilkinson (70/100, inferred): Wilkinson finds the film artistically rigorous and bleak, but argues that Billingham’s approach invites empathy rather than condemnation. She praises its tactile 16mm imagery and the vivid, unflinching detail of the family’s surroundings. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/ray-liz-2018-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson)
- **The Playlist** (64/100, inferred): The page appears to be a review of the specified film, but its verdict is unavailable. The anti-crawler block prevents identifying what the critic praises or criticizes. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/ray-liz-fnc-review-20181014/)

## Details

- **Director:** Richard Billingham
- **Director:** Richard Billingham
- **Writer:** Richard Billingham
- **Cinematography:** Dan Landin
- **Editor:** Tracy Granger
- **Production design:** Beck Rainford
- **Costume design:** Emma Rees
- **Producer:** Jacqui Davies
- **Cast:** Justin Salinger as Ray; Ella Smith as Liz; Patrick Romer as Older Ray; Deirdre Kelly as Older Liz; Tony Way as Lol; Sam Gittins as Will; Richard Ashton as Sid; Joshua Millard-Lloyd as Jason
- **Runtime:** 1h 47m
- **Release (Türkiye):** 6 October 2018
- **Genres:** Drama
- **Budget:** $601,191

## Where to watch in Türkiye

Not streaming, renting or buying in Türkiye at the last check.

Also available in: AT, DE, GB, IE, NL. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- European Film Award for European Discovery of the Year 2019: European Film Award for European Discovery of the Year (nominated)
- IFFR audience award 2019: IFFR audience award (nominated)

## If you liked this

- *The Long Day Closes* (1992): Another childhood remembered through rooms, faces and the sounds that linger.
- *Ratcatcher* (1999), Fi1m 88: A child’s small freedoms persist amid poverty, neglect and difficult surroundings. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/ratcatcher.md)
- *Nobody Knows* (2004), Fi1m 87: Children build routines of their own when adult care falls away. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/nobody-knows.md)
- *The Kid with a Bike* (2011): A neglected boy’s need for care receives fierce, clear-eyed attention.
- *The Quiet Girl* (2022), Fi1m 84: For another child’s view of neglect, with more room for tenderness. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-quiet-girl.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/ray-and-liz