This afternoon, I ventured into the city centre by bus - specially to see the latest Ken Loach film - "The Old Oak" and I must say that I am very glad that I bothered. It may well be Loach's last film for he will be 88 years old next year. As a lifelong socialist, he has never sold out in his film-making - picking unusual stories that faithfully portray the working class with dignity and compassion. His characters are never caricatures.
"The Old Oak" is set in a deprived former coal mining village in the north east of England. Tensions occur between longstanding residents and Syrian refugees who have come to live amongst them after fleeing from warfare and internal strife in their home country.
At the heart of the drama are two people played by actors who were plucked from obscurity by Ken Lcach himself. There's T.J. Ballantyne, the landlord of the rundown "Old Oak" pub, played by a former fire fighter called Dave Turner and a young woman from the Syrian community called Yara played by middle school drama teacher Ebla Mari.
It is through them that the two groups come together and in spite of mutual poverty and suspicion, hope and togetherness are born. Ultimately, there's a bright upbeat message to this emotionally genuine film which contains many moving moments that I freely admit brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you for sharing this, YP. I watched the trailer online and very much hope the film will be available for viewing online.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you will have to wait a while but usually we can find ways of watching most films.
DeleteSounds like a heart-warming story.
ReplyDeleteWe need to hear about more stories like that in our real world! The media focuses on so much hate but I think there are many kind people out there too!
I guess in the end this film was all about love and hope and a deprived community coming together.
DeleteThat sounds like something I'd watch. I wonder if we will ever see it downunder?
ReplyDeleteI hope you get a chance to see it Elsie even though films about the working class tend to be downplayed by "the system".
DeleteIt sounds like it could be set in any of the villages I know relatively well; Wath-upon-Dearne, Thurnscoe, Wombwell...
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Ken Loach was close to 90. To be still so actively working at his age deserves great respect.
It could just as easily have been set in one of the villages you mentioned. I would pick Thurnscoe.
DeleteOur ABC had a movie show, oddly called The Movie Show. I can't remember any of Loach's films but he was mentioned as a master many times in The Movie Show.
ReplyDeleteFor this film he chose a controversial subject, rather interesting to me who is very interested in inter racial connections.
In 1969 he made the iconic film "Kes". Have you ever seen it? I think that to understand England you really must see it.
DeleteSounds like a very controversial and thought provoking film plot. Kes was Ken's masterpiece in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great film. As humans we have more in common than our differences, if we can focus on the common ground the world is a better place.
ReplyDeleteI would watch anything by Ken Loach. There are those who wouldn't because they don't like what he shows and says. Closed minds.
ReplyDeleteSounds lovely, though living in very small-town South Carolina I doubt it will ever play anywhere near me! I may have to check streaming services.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good film. I like "It's now where you're from, it's what you bring" underneath the title.
ReplyDeleteAs you said, you have to see *Kes* in order to understand England.
ReplyDeleteDai Williams, as young Billy Casper, brought a depth to the film that
still astounds; the killing of the kestrel that Billy cares for still shocks.
Colin Welland, who plays Billy's teacher, wrote the television play
*Roll On Four O'Clock* (YouTube) set in a comprehensive school in
the North of England. Wonderful, in its witty evocation of another time.
I believe you met Barry Hines, who wrote the novel *Kestrel for a Knave*
on which Ken Loach based his brilliant film.
Thanks for the tip. I plan to see it. "Kes" is a great film. More recently "I, Daniel Blake" was devastating. Shameful that he was expelled from the Labour Party as part of the anti-Corbyn pivot.
ReplyDeleteI'll watch for this film. These days, we need more heart-warming stories about people coming together despite their differences.
ReplyDelete