I, Daniel Blake

The Club reviewed I, Daniel Blake in April 2021

The Storyline

A 59 year old carpenter recovering from a heart attack befriends a single mother and her two kids as they navigate their way through the impersonal, Kafkaesque benefits system. With equal amounts of humor, warmth and despair, the journey is heartfelt and emotional until the end.

Directed by Ken Loach and written by his long-time collaborator Paul Laverty, it stars Dave Johns as Daniel Blake, who is denied Employment and Support Allowance despite his doctor finding him unfit to work. Hayley Squires co-stars as Katie, a struggling single mother whom Daniel befriends.

The film won the Palme d’Or at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, the Prix du public at the 2016 Locarno International Film Festival and the 2017 BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film.

The Club review session was very animated and praised the film

Link to Wikipedia

Link to IMDb Site

Link to Rotten Tomatoes

Running Time – 1hr 40mins (100 minutes)

UK Classification – 15