Thatcherism Lives!

“I, Daniel Blake,” by Ken Loach, 2016

Ken Loach is probably one of the leading proletarian film maker of modern times, along with Mike Leigh.  This film follows a man trapped in Theresa May 'Thatcher’s' England on the unemployment / disability line.  It is now.  Through no fault of his own, Blake has a heart attack after 40 years work as a carpenter, and is declared by his doctor to be unable to work until he recovers.  The English work office (Newcastle on Tyne) thinks otherwise, and denies his disability  benefits.  A dodgy government ‘health professional’ of some kind says he is able to work.  So he applies for the British version of unemployment (the dole!) and looks for work by walking through the streets of town asking people about jobs.  But once offered a job, he declines it, as he has been told he cannot work by his doctor. Yet to get benefits you must look.
Catch 22! 

You Don't Want to Be Here

We follow Blake through his tribulations with the British state bureaucracy, which micro-manage his life, unlike what they do to hedge fund managers from the City.  He does not know how to use a computer.  He gets tired of answering questions which have nothing to do with his case.  He sympathizes with a young woman denied benefits, much as he has. Finally losing it, he spray-paints his protest on the stone walls of the office and draws cheers, is arrested and let go.  He ultimately gets an appeal date. 

In the process we see him helping the young woman and her children with mechanical tasks around her run-down apartment.  He yells at, then enjoys the company of his young black neighbor, who is importing shoes from China directly from a factory worker.  He visits a food bank, hilariously learns a bit about computers, is put on hold for hours, sells his furniture, is humiliated by state workers and helped by one. He gets to go to a resume (CV) class where he is told to 'stand out' when he points out there are more people than jobs. He is a blunt, older, somewhat excitable fellow shut out of the ‘new Britain.’ The denouement is not unpredictable. 

For anyone that has been on unemployment or welfare or disability, this film strikes a chord.  May you not spend hours on hold or in line or ever have to receive benefits!

Prior Ken Loach film reviewed: "Jimmy's Hall."  Prior Leigh films reviewed:  “High Hopes,” “Mr. Turner.”  Use blog search box, upper left.

Red Frog

February 1, 2018