The Old Oak – Ken Loach Film

Director Ken Loach, and writer Paul Laverty, made the award-winning films ‘I, Daniel Blake’ (2016, on the brutality of benefit sanctions and the need for food banks), and ‘Sorry We Missed You’ (2018, on the gig economy and loss of workers’ rights). Their trilogy is completed with ‘The Old Oak’, released just seven weeks ago. Set in northern England in 2016, THE OLD OAK is the last pub in the village and the only public space where the hard-hit former mining community can meet. T J Ballantyne, the pub landlord, struggles to keep the pub running, but it becomes a contested space following the arrival of refugees in the village without notice. TJ befriends a young photographer among the refugees. Can a way be found for the two traumatised communities, thrown together, to understand one another? It becomes a moving drama about their fears and hopes.  Syrian refugees, who settled in the north-east, contributed to the script, enabling the story  to reflect their own experiences. Elba Mari – who plays the lead as Yara, the photographer – is not a refugee, but lives in the Golan Heights (Syrian territory under illegal Israeli military occupation and condemned by the UN, despite Trump recognising it as part of Israel). Both Elba and Claire Rodgerson (who plays Laura, a community activist) hope the film will have a lasting impact – that there is more that unites people than divides them, and we need to overcome fear and resentment.   After making films on major issues for over sixty years, and having reached the age of 87, Ken has said ‘The Old Oak’ is likely to be his final film.  If you can, please join us for our screening of this powerful and moving film next week.        UK | 2023  | 90 mins    FRIDAY 24th November 2023, 7.30pm   Ruskin House (Cedar Hall), 23 Coombe Road, Croydon CR0 1BD More information, a trailer and tickets are available online (£5.80) at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/697544974797 or from Ruskin House Bar/on the door (£5.00 cash) (All ticket sales benefit Ruskin House)