A grim pessimism triumphs in The Old Oak, for a society in which there is neither punishment for those who make mistakes, nor comfort for those who, on the contrary, do everything possible every day to make the world in which we live a better place. Here, Ken Loach seems to have an even darker and more disillusioned take on events, and as he works more and more with subtraction, he brings us what could be his last feature film. In competition at Cannes Film Festival 2023.
When the community expands
Already the owner of two Palme d’Or (one in 2006). Vi’m going What caress grass and one in 2016 for I, Daniel Blake), renowned British director Ken Loach is unlikely to disappoint his audience. So it was, therefore, and for this 76th festival From Canneswhere he presented his latest work at the world premiere in competition V Old oak. A film in which many themes dear to the author are repeated, and which is characterized above all by a deep fundamental pessimism that is the result of an always deep and never banal analysis of the human race.
New Arrivals
The whole story thus takes place in a small provincial town in the north of England. T.J. Ballantyne (plays Dave Turner) is the owner of a small pub (an old oak, in fact) visited by the same customers for many years. One day, the arrival of a large group of Syrian refugees in the city will disrupt the lives of the inhabitants, causing the most contradictory reactions. TJ will find in young Jari (Ebla Marie), a girl in her twenties who is passionate about photography, a new friend: together they decide to give new life to the entire community, giving life to a canteen for the poorest (regardless of their background) and organizing exhibitions of photographs and small projections. Will this be enough for newcomers to finally integrate?
man under magnifying glass
The crude realism typical of director Nuneaton’s work makes, therefore, V Old oaklike an absolute hero. Realism, which, combined with the rudeness of some moments, only emphasizes not only the living conditions of those who are forced to start all over again, but also the coldness and shamelessness of some residents, firmly convinced that newcomers can somehow “threaten” their lives and their lives. calmness. So, when watching the film, a man emerges in his worst forms, capable of the most inconceivable atrocities, completely ignoring his fellow citizens.
subtraction work
Ken Loach, for its part, knows “its chickens” well. And he showed it to us again and again throughout the years of his honorable career. And indeed, this is his small and precious V Old oak all this comes out with all possible pessimism, for a society in which there is neither punishment for those who make mistakes, nor consolation for those who, on the contrary, do everything possible every day to make the world in which we live a better place. Ken Loach seems to have an even darker and more disillusioned take on things here, and by working more and more with subtraction, he’s presented us with what many (and presumably the director himself) believe could be his last feature film.
beauty moments
Will we miss his cinema, if so? Undoubtedly. But, to give (as it should be) a final farewell to the world of cinema, Loach did not fail to give us, even in this V Old oak, precious manifestations of beauty; whether it be a small photo exhibition discovered almost by accident, an evening open to all in which photographs of every member of the community are projected, or even unexpected displays of solidarity when all hope of happiness now seems dead forever. And so, there are even moments of strong emotions while watching V Old oak. Ken Loach really thought of everything. We only hope that in the future he will still want to delight our eyes with his precious cinematography.
Form
Original name: an old oak
Director: Ken Loach
Country/year: France, UK, Belgium / 2023
Duration: 113′
Type: Dramatic
Throw: Debbie Honeywood, Maxie Peters, Abigail Lawson, Alex White, Andrea Johnson, Andy Dawson, Chris Braxton, Chris Gotts, Chris McGlade, Kol Tate, Dave Turner, Ebla Marie, Jake Jarrett, Joe Armstrong, Laura Daly, Laura Lee Daly, Lloyd Mullings, Reuben Bainbridge, Rob Kirtley, Trevor Fox
Screenplay: Paul Laverty
Photo: Robbie Ryan
Assembly: Jonathan Morris
Music: George Fenton
Director: Rebecca O’Brien, Holly Bryan, Philip Logie, Jack Thomas-O’Brien
Production house: BBC Films, Sixteen Films, Why Not Productions, Les Films du Fleuve, StudioCanal UK
Distribution: Lucky Red
Trailer
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