Reviewed by Libby Drake, Thursday 20th October 2016
Fifty years ago, social realist director Ken Loach burst into the public arena with Poor Cow and Cathy Come Home. The latter addressed the issue of homelessness head-on and was a major influence in social change in the UK. Loach's films since then have focused predominantly on the everyday struggles and realities of working people. Now, with his latest film, Loach has won the 2016 Palme d'Or, the top prize at Cannes Film Festival, for the second time.I, Daniel Blake tells the bleak and frustrating story of two everyday people who have fallen on hard times and are being dehumanised by the system. Daniel Blake (Dave Johns), a skilled carpenter, recently had a heart attack. His doctor says he is not fit to return to work, but the social services assessor says that he is. He can appeal the decision on his application for disability support, but if he wants any financial support in the meantime then he must apply for jobseeker's allowance. This means he must spend 30 hours a week looking for work, and prove it. Daniel struggles to complete the application for jobseeker's allowance. He must apply on-line but has never used a computer. He must go to the public library to apply, which proves a frustrating and humiliating experience.
When in the social services office Daniel meets Katie (Hayley Squires). He steps in to defend her when he sees her being treated unfairly, resulting in them both being thrown out. Katie, a single mother, has been deserted by the partners of her two children and is trying to study in order to better support her family. Although she is a Londoner, the only house that she can be provided with is in Newcastle, in the north of England. After moving into her new home she misses her appointment at social services because she couldn't find the office in time. There is a 'rule' for such situations, and so she is turned away. Katie has no family support, no friends, and twelve pounds in her purse. Daniel steps in to help her with local knowledge, repairs on the house, and friendship.
Although an experienced stand-up comedian and TV actor, Dave Johns plays his first film role as Daniel. His performance is truly outstanding. We empathise with him from the very beginning of the film. He is honest, kind, warm and funny, but he is one man against the bureaucracy and rules of the system, many of which the audience will identify with, one way or another. Hayley Squires also gives an outstanding performance as Katie. The scene where she is being taken around the food bank to collect food and toiletries is perhaps the most powerful in the film, devastating and heart-breaking, but also filled with compassion. Young newcomer, Briana Shann, gives an excellent performance as Katie's twelve-year-old daughter Daisy.
Ken Loach is a fascinating director and the actors who work with him love him. I, Daniel Blake is made in the same realistic way as other Loach films. When filming began the actors did not know the whole story. The film was shot in sequence and the actors were given one bit of script at a time resulting in them living the lives of their characters. They didn't know what was going to happen to them tomorrow or the next day. Typically, on a Loach set, no-one is allowed to make eye contact with the actors. Cameras and boom are kept as hidden as possible and out of sight lines, allowing the actors to live their character. For the full experience of realism, in I, Daniel Blake the workers in the food bank were people who actually worked in the food bank, and the people in the social services office were people who had actually worked there. The camera work is very close and intimate, bringing the audience right into the world of the characters so that we feel as if we are there with them.
There is no denying that Loach is a left-wing filmmaker, and this is often used as a reason to downplay his films or to say they are an exaggeration. Scriptwriter Paul Laverty, however, conducted extensive research for this film and all the scenes are from real life stories. The excuse that the harsh treatment of welfare recipients is because of benefit fraud is false, the official figure for benefit fraud in the UK is 0.7%. Perhaps I, Daniel Blake is more of a mirror than an exaggeration.
In summary, the performances, script, direction, and camera work are outstanding. This is an extremely engrossing and powerful film where a variety of audience emotions run high. It is highly recommended.
I, Daniel Blake is screening at the Palace Nova, Adelaide, South Australia at 4.20pm Sunday 6th November, 8.40pm Friday 11th November and 2.00pm on Sunday 13th November. Poor Cow, and a documentary, Versus: The Life and Films of Ken Loach, are also being screened.
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