May 3-6 | Friday-Monday | 1 hour, 53 minutes | Rated |
The Old Oak was once the pub at the heart of a thriving mining town in County Durham in northeastern England, but hard times have fallen on the small community, and owner TJ works to keep the Oak open as the last place townsfolk can get together in public. When a busload of Syrian refugees are settled in the already-struggling town, things get tense. But a connection between TJ and Yara, one of the refugees, opens a pathway for a dialogue between both sides that could leave everyone in a better place. Can TJ and Yara fight through the casual xenophobia and lack of empathy from the townsfolk to reach it? The film is a masterpiece of hope and solidarity in the face of pain and righteous anger at the loss of a way of life.
“It’s a righteous oeuvre with marvelously strong roots.” -Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times
“A fine send-off for workhorse British director Ken Loach, this film is a sort of proudly unsexy piece of social realism portraiture whose delicate blend of poignancy and hopefulness mark it as a welcomely mature work for the remaining cineastes who care.” -Brent Simon, AV Club
“It’s as engrossing, thoughtful, heartfelt, angry, hopeful, and altogether valuable as his best work. If it is indeed Loach’s farewell, it’s one hell of a fine note to go out on.” -Matt Zoller Seitz, RogerEbert.com
“With The Old Oak, Ken Loach goes out with one last, full-throated call for brotherhood and solidarity. It’s the most hopeful the old soldier’s been in years.” -Bilge Ebiri, New York Magazine/Vulture
“A poignant and moving coda to a career spent chronicling personal indignities amid broader social ills like poverty and unemployment.” -Jocelyn Noveck, Associated Press
“In place of magical thinking and a happy ending, “The Old Oak” serves up something harder: a meditation on hope.” -Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times
“The final message of hope is resolutely upbeat and desperately needed.” -Wendy Ide, Observer (UK)
“[Loach] could hardly have delivered a more resonant, timely or indeed angry swansong than this feature which takes up arms against the decay of national compassion.” -Jonathan Romney, Screen International
“I hope that this isn’t Loach’s final film, but if it is, he has concluded with a ringing statement of faith in compassion for the oppressed.” -Peter Bradshaw, Guardian
The Old Oak will opens at The Clyde Friday, May 3, and play Friday-Monday at 7:30 (no more Sunday matinees for the Summer).
