The Old Oak
Belgium, France, United Kingdom, 2023, 113 minutes, Color, English; Turkish captioned
2023 Locarno International Film Festival; Prix du public UBS 2023 Palic Film Festival; Audience Award
Director: Ken Loach
Screenplay: Paul Laverty
Cinematography: Robbie Ryan
Editing: Jonathan Morris
Music: George Fenton
Producer: Rebecca O’Brien
Production: StudioCanal UK, Sixteen Films, Why Not Productions
Cast: Dave Turner, Ebla Mari, Claire Rodgerson, Trevor Fox, Chris McGlade, Col Tait, Chrissie Robinson
A small mining town in the northeast of England... "The Old Oak" is not only the last pub left standing, but also the only public space where the townspeople can meet in these difficult days of economic collapse due to the closure of the mines. It will also be the place that will bring together the Syrian refugees who have settled in the region and the townspeople who have begun to harbour a rumoured anger against them. This up-to-date story is also intended to be the final film of the sixty-year career of Ken Loach, who has always managed to capture the problems of the time.