Ken Loach Collection: Riff Raff Raining Stones Ladybird Ladybird

Triple bill of dramas directed by Ken Loach. In 'Riff Raff' (1991) former jailbird Stevie (Robert Carlyle) travels to London, finds work on a building site, and sets up home in an abandoned flat. One day he discovers a handbag in a skip and returns it to its owner, aspiring singer Susan (Emer McCourt).

The pair begin a romance, but Susan's drug use soon puts a strain on their relationship and an accident at work, caused by the building company's unscrupulous cost-cutting, brings tensions to a head. In 'Raining Stones' (1993) unemployed and penniless Bob (Bruce Jones) is desperate to earn enough money to pay for his daughter Coleen (Gemma Phoenix)'s communion dress. Unable to raise the cash any other way, he ends up borrowing from a vicious loan shark who then proceeds to terrorise Bob's wife and threaten further violence.

As the communion approaches, the family seem locked into an impossible situation. In 'Ladybird Ladybird' (1994) Maggie Conlon (Crissy Rock) is a downtrodden woman who has had her children taken away by the social services for being an unfit mother. When Maggie then meets a kind and gentle Chilean refugee, they become lovers and move in together.

The couple start a family, but Maggie's past history with the social services causes problems as it means that their newborn baby is in danger of being taken away.