Ken Loach
Ken Loach is English filmmaker, he originally worked as an actor in regional theatre companies and then became a director for BBC Television. His 10 contributions to the BBC’s Wednesday play anthology series includes the docudramas Up the Junction, Cathy Come Home and In Two Minds. They portray working-class people in conflict with the authorities above them.
Loach is a member of the Labour party, in 2015 he endorsed Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour leadership campaign and in 2016; Loach’s one hour documentary ‘In Conversation with Jeremy Corbyn’ was released during the second leadership election.
Ken Loach is a notable filmmaker because in his films he discusses real and hard hitting subjects that occur in everyday life for example he focuses on portray the problems faced by lower/working class people.
Loach’s film Kes was voted the seventh greatest British film of the 20th century in a poll by the British Film Institute.
He is also a social campaigner for most of his career, believes the current criteria for claiming benefits in the UK is a situation designed to frustrate and humiliate the claimant to such an extent that they drop out of the system and stop pursuing their right to ask for support if necessary. His films are mainly to show ordinary people and their dilemmas.
I, Daniel Blake
I, Daniel Blake is a 2016 drama film directed by Ken Loach and by Paul Laverty. The film I, Daniel Blake is about the main character Daniel Blake and the film follows the story and struggle of Blake after he is denied employment and support allowance despite his doctor finding him unfit for work.
What issues does the film challenge?
I, Daniel Blake challenges many issues however mainly focuses on the toxic climate of the British welfare and benefit system. The issue is challenged by showing the difficulty and struggle people have while on benefits, while also showing the toxic nature that occurs when people are rejected benefits after seeming unfit for them which may not be the case or reason such as Daniel Blake he is refused support allowance and is told to go find a job however is doctors inform him that is ill -suited or unable to work . The film also dives in on the effect it can have on people after being refused their benefits this is shown through the character Katie who is a single mother Daniel be-friends. The film challenges more issues through the character Katie as she is a single mother who has recently moved to Newcastle from a homeless shelter in London, she meets Daniel Blake after she is sanctioned after arriving late to her job centre appointment, later in the film we she the she goes through after she is caught shoplifting from a supermarket and is offered a job as a prostitute which she accepts.
What group of people does the film represent?
The film represents lower-class people in conflict with the authorities above them. The film deepens in the representation of the most vulnerable and the poorest people and how they are treated by our government with brutality that is considered disgraceful; the film itself reflects the destructive environment that has built up around the welfare system in recent years and reviles the awful realities of the country’s benefit system.
How does the film show ideologies?
I, Daniel Blake has many ideologies for example the film deepens within his struggle with the Department for work and Pensions as they decide and reject his appeal for sickness benefits after having a heart attack. The film reveals the ideologies of the toxic climate that has developed around the welfare system as Daniel Blake’s job seekers allowance is stopped, after the DWP tell him to look for jobs however his doctors have said he is unfit for work. The film also shows the struggle of Daniel Blake’s appeal against DWP.
What is meant by the term ‘austerity’?
The term Austerity stands for difficult economic conditions that are created by the government measures to reduce public expenditure. It also stands for severity of attitude.
How is ‘austerity’ relevant to the film?
Austerity is relevant to the film because it stands for difficult economic conditions that are created by government measures to reduce public expenditure, and I, Daniel Blake has the theme of difficult economic conditions that have been placed by the government. The film talks and shows the struggle and difficulty people have with the benefit system which is run by the government, the film dives into a person’s life and their own struggle after their job seeker’s allowance is stopped. Over all the film exposes the truth about the ‘welfare’ system and how difficult the government can make certain situations.
Chloe Nottage Media 