The Old Oak (2023)
Genre: Drama
Duration: 113 minuten
Country:
United Kingdom / France / Belgium
Directed by: Ken Loach
Stars: Dave Turner, Ebla Mari and Claire Rodgerson
IMDb score:
7,1 (14.271)
Releasedate: 29 September 2023
The Old Oak plot
"It's not where you're from, it's what you bring."
The Old Oak is the last pub and gathering place within the once thriving mining community. The last three decades have been tough for the inhabitants. These are also difficult times for the pub owner TJ Ballantyne. The situation becomes even worse when Syrian refugees are transferred unannounced to the village.
Actors and actresses
TJ Ballantyne
Yara
Laura
Charlie
Vic
Eddy
Garry
Joe
Jaffa Cake
Micky
Reviews & comments
kos
-
- 46733 messages
- 8886 votes
After seeing the horrible SBS debate yesterday, I quickly set this up to regain some confidence in humanity.
You can always rely on Loach to give a human face to social issues, here a poor deserted town in England such as Ter Apel, which already has nothing and also has to deal with bus loads of refugees.
Never subtle, but beautiful human notes are cracked ( the local children who say they would like to get a free bicycle like those asylum children ) and there are always hopeful thoughts among the stereotypes.
Translated from Dutch · View original
BBarbie
-
- 12893 messages
- 7675 votes
Ken Loach is one of my favorite directors with his sharp films about everyday social problems. This film about the ambivalent reception of Syrian refugees by the local population also fits seamlessly into his oeuvre. I find it somewhat annoying that it is not really a continuous story, but rather a collection of sketches. Nevertheless, once again a current film by Loach with an appealing message.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Fisico
-
- 10039 messages
- 5398 votes
Another strong film by Ken Loach in his typical style to expose social injustice and struggle in the United Kingdom. This time he takes the war in Syria as the theme, which caused a large flow of refugees to Europe. The exact location is not immediately given, only the neighboring municipality of Durham, which is located between Sunderland, Newcastle and Middlesborough. The village is impoverished and is still experiencing the after-effects of the once glorious mining industry a few decades ago. Now it has become a desolate place where no one cares about them and everything has fallen into disrepair.
It is in that context that a bus of Syrian refugees is offered shelter. As if the local residents don't have enough misery and worries. The reception is hostile to say the least and that actually extends throughout the film. Apart from a noble initiative here and there by, among others, the very pleasant Ballantyne. The girl with the camera is the bond between both groups. The reality is often different. Few male refugees were also seen and certainly not as a leading character.
Nevertheless, a warm film about living together and working together, about giving and receiving trust, about altruism and humanity. I thought the film slumped halfway through and then revived briefly at the sad scene with Marra. I also found the opening scene with the camera quite emotionally harsh.
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