Drama
British
2016 · Directed by Ken Loach · 100 min
A Newcastle carpenter in his late fifties is told by doctors he cannot work after a heart attack, and by the state that he must look for work anyway. Ken Loach's drama follows his collision with the benefits system and an unlikely friendship with a struggling young mother.
Why it matters in cinema history
A defining late work of British social realism, carrying a tradition from Cathy Come Home and Kes into the austerity era. It also confirmed Loach as one of the few directors to win the Palme d'Or twice.
Watch with intention
Watch how the film makes ordinary procedure, such as a phone call or a form, feel as tense as a confrontation.
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