” It’s a monumental farce, isn’t it? You sitting there with your friendly name tag on your chest, Ann, opposite a sick man looking for nonexistent jobs, that I can’t take anyway.”
Ken Loach is a director that isn’t shy from talking about persistent political issues. He’s had famous pieces of work like ‘Kes’ or cult favorites like ‘Sorry We Missed You’, but a movie that speaks louder than any other on the topical issues of Britain’s turmoil is the emotional pull-string that is, ‘I, Daniel Blake.’ It’s a movie that has much to say on how the Tory government has treated those who can’t, or can’t find, work. With unemployment rates rising each year, and the rich sitting high on top of the working class, it creates a depressing, poverty-stricken world. ‘I, Daniel Blake’ addresses this with a blunt statement that could give those on the opposite side some perspective, or perhaps those who sit on the fence a nudge towards the side of the working man. As much as we might want to turn our sight towards a happy and more optimistic movie, it is important to address the issues that bog down the financially oppressed. This is Ken Loach’s brutally honest, ‘I, Daniel Blake.’
Our story focuses on the titular, Daniel Blake (Dave Johns), a working class, middle-aged carpenter living in Newcastle who has been suspended from work after suffering a heart attack. He lives at a flat complex alone after the death of his wife. He’s also good friends with the young friends living next door to him, who are also struggling to maintain income. Daniel tries to acquire health benefits from the government but is rejected as they deem him ‘fit enough to work’. Daniel is left applying to the Jobcentre to gain unemployment benefits but comes to the stark realization of just how long and hard it is to get the very means of living. While waiting for an appointment he encounters Katie (Hayley Squires), a struggling single mother of two who has to move up north without a job and barely any money to her name. Katie is rejected from her appointment because she arrives late, despite her protest and Daniel standing by her, she is forced out of the building. This encounter begins a friendship between the two, where Daniel helps her get by while Katie looks, desperately, for a job. Daniel struggles to get benefits and starts to lose his possessions, while Katie stoops to petty crimes and degrading jobs so she can support her kids. A tale of woe within the working class Britain.
Daniel’s story acts as the poster of modern Britain; the working class left scraping through the gutter as the wealthy remain unsympathetic. Daniel is a likable and relatable person, he doesn’t have a very prestigious career, but has dedicated himself to his craft his whole life. His comfortable life has continued to spiral out of control since his wife had passed away, the regular jack-of-the-lad turned into a beaten down middle-aged man is a depressing image of the financial neglect the government has created in modern times. Daniel provides that example of how even older generations can suffer from these issues, after years of providing for the community, the government turns it’s back on him. Regardless, Daniel remains as spry and helpful as ever once he encounters Katie. They share in each other’s financial struggles, and while their situations are different, they’re find a sense of unity with each other. Daniel remains very protective over Katie, doing odd jobs for her around the house and spending time with her children. Rather than creating the typical romance story you’d get in a mandated studio movie, the focus is placed on a surrogate father-type relationship.
As much as Daniel is there represents the older generation, Katie is there to show the troubles that befall a single, young mother. Katie’s turmoils may be more relatable to most as it’s a situation that many single parents have found themselves in. Katie tries her best to be a strong and dedicated mother, but the reality comes from the money-driven world that neglects her the basic right to live. We see Katie desperately seek jobs, visit food banks, even steal basic essentials from stores. Eventually Katie finds herself working as an escort, which Daniel soon learns about, this causes him to break down in tears and their friendship becomes fractured as a result. While the film may be named after Daniel, and is certainly the focal point, Katie’s story is far more harrowing. Daniel almost acts as the viewer’s conduit. each revelation or hardship he experiences becomes our own, the site of Katie stooping to the lowest means can’t help but create a sense of dread. That support that Katie has been denied paints the picture of the ever-negligent government.
The tone of the film remains consistent throughout, but there are elements of comedy that serve to counterbalance the dour tone. Right from the beginning, we hear Daniel in the doctors, without any visuals, and Daniel becomes very sarcastic to each question he’s asked. It sets the two tones of the film with Daniel sneering at an otherwise depressing situation. The moments that Daniel shares with his neighbors are played off as the older generation not fully understanding the youth of today, but Daniel seems to just go along with their money-making schemes. This comedy gives us a small light in the depressing times, the story becomes an endurance test for the lead characters, almost as if the film is actively trying to beat them down into nothing, but Daniel tries to remain as optimistic as ever. The optimism does eventually disappear, however, as things continue to go wrong. The casual moviegoer will not go into a film expecting to feel so melancholy, but there is something to be said about giving perspective through a medium you might not expect. Film is more than a means of entertainment, it is another outlet to tell a tale that can leave you with a harrowing message on social climate. This message rings no louder than with the ending; when things seem to be getting better, we get a stark reminder that not everything can be pushed to the side so easily.
This movie is certainly a hard one to recommend to a casual movie-goer. Personalized movies are a dying medium as big-budget, action blockbusters are now the only real presence in modern cinema. There is a place for these stories with the film enthusiast, of course, but audiences will mostly want to shut their brains off for mindless action flicks. This movie isn’t something that you may want to see, but it’s something that NEEDS to be seen. Ignoring the economic issues that are going on in the world right now is to be totally ignorant. Whatever your political stance may be, you can’t ignore the messages put on display within this movie. I think this film also works as a nice gateway into more independent cinema, it’s relatable to the average British person, being more accessible than you might initially think, and can lead you down the rabbit hole of what makes independent film so important and, quite frankly, brilliant. Check it out, no matter where you stand on the subject matter.
Side note: I’ll go for something more cheerful next time.
Written review by C. Johnson.