British director Ken Loach's most recent work, "The Old Oak", has made its first appearance in competition at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. The film, written by Paul Laverty and starring Debbie Honeywood, Ebla Mari, and Dave Turner, deftly deals with the Syrian refugee crisis.
"The Old Oak" tells the story of TJ Ballantyne, owner of a pub threatened with closure due to financial difficulties. The plot begins with the arrival of Syrian refugees in his village. TJ forms an unexpected relationship with Yara, a young Syrian refugee played by Ebla Mari. This budding friendship develops despite the tensions and prejudices within their community.
Known for his committed and critical works, such as"Sorry We Missed You" (2019), Ken Loach 's "The Old Oak" is a remarkable take on current issues of refugee reception and intercultural integration. The screenplay, conceived by Paul Laverty, offers a nuanced, in-depth analysis of these issues, complemented by the humanism characteristic of Loach's cinematic approach.
Cannes award-winning director Ken Loach is an icon of social cinema. His films regularly raise expectations, and "The Old Oak" is no exception.
The film revolves around the concept of solidarity, illustrated by the phrase"When you eat together, you stick together". Syrian refugees arrive in a village in northern England, devastated by the tragic collapse of a local mine. The village's dire economic situation worsens with the arrival of the refugees, exacerbating tensions between local residents and the new arrivals.
However, "The Old Oak" is more than just a social drama. It features moments of profound humanity, such as when Yara's mother brings TJ food during a personal ordeal. This scene underlines the theme of sharing, a key element that brings people together in the film, with the lovely line"sometimes in life, there's no need for words, only food".
Another strong point of "The Old Oak" is its treatment of religion. Yara, though Muslim, appreciates the symbolic beauty of a cathedral, illustrating the universality of beauty and the sacred. TJ explains that the Cathedral does not belong to the church, but to its builders. This sequence underlines the film's humanist approach, showing that peaceful coexistence and acceptance are possible despite differences.
Despite its predictable conclusion, "The Old Oak" manages to touch viewers' hearts deeply. Ken Loach's work promises not only to be a cinematic success, but also to provoke a serious and necessary discussion on refugee reception and integration.
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