The Old Oak sees director Ken Loach reunite with writer Paul Laverty after they worked together on Sorry We Missed You – here’s the trailer.
Loach has always been known for tackling social issues in his films, and The Old Oak is no different. At a time when the English Government is constantly pledging to ‘stop the boats’, Loach and Laverty’s new film sees a group of Syrian refugees look for a new home in County Durham.
Once a thriving mining community, the town now struggles. The titular pub, run by TJ Bannatyne (Dave Turner) is the only place for people to meet and socialise. As the arrival of the refugees causes tension to rise, Bannatyne befriends one of them, an aspiring photographer called Yara (Ebla Mari) and fights for their acceptance. This seems like a really heartwarming tale.
The film opened at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and competed for the Palme d’Or. Ken Loach, now 87, has said that it will “probably” be his last film.
The spirit of the movie is reflected in the wide variety of production companies involved. The Old Oak is a co-production between the UK, France and Belgium.
It’s set to be released in cinemas on 29th September. Here’s the trailer:
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