In a former mining community in the north of England, the local pub The Old Oak becomes the scene of tensions that arise between sections of the local population and a number of Syrian refugees who have arrived there with hopes of a brighter future. The strength has long gone from the pub owner TJ Ballantyne, who for many years witnessed the pub’s decay as the prosperity of the town was destroyed. But when he gets to know the young photographer Yara, a desire to bring people together with joint forces is soon born. Master director Ken Loach (I Daniel Blake, ‘Kes’ – The Falcon, The Prize of Freedom) and screenwriter Paul Laverty’s latest film is another poignant and empathetic contemporary portrayal, relentless in its solidarity with people’s quest for a decent life.
– Daniel Tollefsen Altamirano
Program opening:
18.30 Mingle and bubbles outside the Vävenscenen
19.00 Speech + Film screening
