The Old Oak

These times they are a changing far too quick, after decades of the same worn politics, with mind-sets mired in hate, they just want to close the gate, and ignore those who need help, from their conflict; but there are those who have an empathetic heart, who can remove the barriers from their ramparts, some have travelled far and wide, some more permanent reside, both camps realise the need for a new start; so they build a bridge and start to make a deal, by renovating rooms to share their meals, a community is born, amid the contempt and the scorn, all for one, and one for all, is how they feel.

Wonderful performances all round.

I am one of the projectionists in the local small town cinema with only two or three shows per week. The end titles of a film is not only for crediting all people involved in the production, it is also a time to reflect and contemplate on what you experienced when watching the movie, and you can measure how touched people were by how long they stay during the end titles. When The Old Oak was the movie for the evening not a single one in the audience got up from their seats until the last line in the credits had passed, the screen had faded to black and the curtains closed. That is a mark of a very touching movie!

No one can deny that our world is deeply divided. On a global scale, the plight of refugees fleeing conflict zones provokes strong emotions, which in turn breed prejudice, drive a wedge between communities, question long-held traditions, and make it harder for those who have lost loved ones, are uprooted, and are trying to find their place in the world.

Ken Loach tackles these profound issues in his movie, The Old Oak. Loach has made a name for himself with politically charged films. This one is no different, and he tackles these difficult and sensitive issues with empathy and nuance. The performances of Dave Turner and Ebla Mari (who plays Yara, one of the Syrian refugees) are outstanding, and they convey the soul and the pain of the characters. The performances from the non-professional cast are uneven, but I didn't feel this ever detracted from the film, which, at times, can feel like a blunt weapon. This film contains a few scenes that are absolutely blazing with intensity.

The Old Oak brings up some important questions for us, such as how to encourage kindness and unity in our neighbourhoods. How do social media platforms affect local communities? And how can our communities' cultural divides be closed? They are all handled in a compelling, dramatic, and powerful way.

If you are interested in watching films that are socially relevant, making a trip to the cinema to watch The Old Oak is something you should absolutely do. In a world that is becoming more and more torn apart, this is a powerful call for compassion and solidarity.

It's a refugee drama in a declining English village near Durham, England, set in 2016. It follows the experiences of the owner of the last little pub, The Old Oak, in a dying former mining town. T. J. Ballantyne (Dave Turner) is divorced, and his distant son no longer speaks to him. His pub is slowly dying along with the village when some Syrian refugees move into the town. T. J.'s only companion is a dog called Marra (Lola). Some of his regulars, like Vic (Chris McGlade), Charlie (Trevor Fox), and Eddy (Col Tait), are vicious racists, but T. J. provides some assistance to Laura (Claire Rodgerson), the woman heading the local refugee assistance efforts.

One of the refugees, Yara (Ebla Mari), is a skilled photographer who has learned good English in a refugee camp. Her mother, Fatima (Amna Al Ali), and three younger siblings are with her but speak little English. Her father, a tailor, is missing back in Syria is unknown.

The film follows the tension between the locals and newcomers and T. J.'s evolving relationship with both sides. "The Old Oak" contains no highly dramatic events, but relationships and thoughts about hope change as the story unfolds.

"The Old Oak" is a primarily gentle film about human relationships in an economically challenged community. Turner and Mari are outstanding, though Mari's character is a bit too saintly. Occasionally, the script gets a little didactic, slowing the pace. But it's a great story about refugee engagement in a small traditional village.

I don't think I've ever seen a film that emotionally hooked me as quickly as The Old Oak did. Right from the off you are dragged into the visceral and powerful emotion of this piece, and it rarely relents.

It depicts events after a group of Syrian refugees is placed in an ex mining town in the north-east of England. Despite it being a fiction, the realism that Loach brings to the film and the fact that anybody living in Britain will unfortunately recognise the language and sentiment makes it an intensely devastating film. But it is not all doom and gloom. It also shows the best of humanity and how people can rally around each other, which also makes for a truly inspiring film.

I actually think with a film like this the technical elements (even though they are mostly great) are actually irrelevant. The message of this film is so crucial and powerful and is conveyed so well, and that is the most important thing. It is impossible not be stirred emotionally by this film in only a way the best film makers can achieve.

With the awful rhetoric surrounding refugees that is encouraged and perpetrated by those in power, films like this feel more crucial than ever, making this an absolute must watch piece of cinema.