I, Daniel Blake

I, Daniel Blake
British release poster
Directed by Ken Loach
Produced by Rebecca O'Brien
Written by Paul Laverty
Starring
Music by George Fenton
Cinematography Robbie Ryan
Edited by Jonathan Morris
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release date
  • 13 May 2016 (2016-05-13) (Cannes)
  • 21 October 2016 (2016-10-21) (United Kingdom)
Running time
 100 minutes[1]
Country
  • United Kingdom
  • France
  • Belgium
Language English
Box office $15.8 million[2]

I, Daniel Blake is a 2016 drama film directed by Ken Loach and written by Loach's frequent 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,[3][4][5] and the 2017 BAFTA for Outstanding British Film.[6]

Plot

Widower Daniel Blake, a 59-year-old joiner from Newcastle, has had a heart attack at work. Though his cardiologist has not allowed him to return to work, Daniel is deemed fit to do so after a work capability assessment and denied employment and support allowance. He is frustrated to learn that his doctor was not contacted about the decision, and applies for an appeal, a process he finds difficult because he must complete forms online and is not computer literate.

Daniel befriends single mother Katie after she is sanctioned for arriving late for a jobcentre appointment. Katie and her children have just moved to Newcastle from a London homeless persons' hostel, as there is no affordable accommodation available in London. Daniel helps the family by repairing objects, teaching them how to heat rooms without electricity and crafting wooden toys for the children.

During a visit to a food bank, Katie is overcome by hunger and breaks down. After she is caught shoplifting at a supermarket, a security guard offers her work as a prostitute. Daniel surprises her at the brothel, where he begs her to give up the job, but she tearfully insists she has no other choice to feed her children.

As a condition for receiving jobseeker's allowance, Daniel must keep looking for work. He refuses a job at a scrapyard because his doctor will not allow him to work yet. When Daniel's work coach tells him he must work harder to find a job or be sanctioned, Daniel spraypaints "I, Daniel Blake, demand my appeal date before I starve" on the building. He earns the support of passers by, including other benefits claimants, but is arrested and warned by the police. Daniel sells most of his belongings and becomes withdrawn.

On the day of Daniel's appeal, Katie accompanies him to court. A welfare adviser tells Daniel that his case looks sound. On glimpsing the judge and doctor who will decide his case, Daniel becomes anxious and visits the lavatory, where he suffers a heart attack and dies. At his public health funeral, Katie reads the eulogy, including the speech Daniel had intended to read at his appeal. The speech describes his feelings about how the welfare system failed him by treating him like a dog instead of a man proud to have paid his dues to society.

Cast

Production

Principal photography began in October 2015 in Newcastle upon Tyne and the surrounding area.[7] The film was produced by Rebecca O'Brien[8] for Sixteen Films, Why Not Productions and Wild Bunch with the support of the British Film Institute and BBC Films.[9]

Reception

Critical response

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 93%, based on 168 reviews, with an average rating of 8/10.[10] The site's consensus reads: "I, Daniel Blake marks yet another well-told chapter in director Ken Loach's powerfully populist filmography."[10] On Metacritic the film has a score of 78 out of 100 score, based on 31 critics, indicating "generally favourable reviews".[11]

Box office

I, Daniel Blake became Ken Loach's biggest success at the UK box office, and the film sparked debate in the country.[12][13]

Political response

There has been a wide variety of both praise and criticism of the film from politicians. Former Conservative Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith referred to the film as unfair, aiming particular criticism at its portrayal of Jobcentre staff, saying: "This idea that everybody is out to crunch you, I think it has really hurt Jobcentre staff who don’t see themselves as that."[14] Producer Rebecca O'Brien responded by stating that Duncan Smith "is living in cloud cuckoo land."[15]

Similarly, on an episode of BBC's topical debate programme Question Time broadcast on 27 October 2016, which featured Ken Loach as a panellist, Business Secretary Greg Clark described the film as "a fictional film",[16] saying "It’s a difficult job administering a benefits system...Department of Work and Pensions staff have to make incredibly difficult decisions and I think they should have our support in making those decisions."[16] Loach responded to this by criticising the pressure that DWP staff are placed under.[16]

Conversely, Leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn appeared at the film's London premiere with the director, then subsequently praised the film on his Facebook page.[17] In a session of Prime Minister's Questions on 2 November 2016, he advised Prime Minister Theresa May to watch the film, as he criticised the fairness of the welfare system.[18]

Accolades

List of awards and nominations
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
Australian Film Critics Association March 7, 2017 Best International Film (English Language) I, Daniel Blake Nominated [19]
British Academy Film Awards 12 February 2017 Best Film Rebecca O'Brien Nominated [20]
[21]
Best Actress in a Supporting Role Hayley Squires Nominated
Best Direction Ken Loach Nominated
Best Original Screenplay Paul Laverty Nominated
Best British Film Paul Laverty, Ken Loach and Rebecca O'Brien Won
British Independent Film Awards 4 December 2016 Best British Independent Film I, Daniel Blake Nominated [22]
Best Director Ken Loach Nominated
Best Actor Dave Johns Won
Best Actress Hayley Squires Nominated
Most Promising Newcomer Dave Johns Nominated
Hayley Squires Won
Best Screenplay Paul Laverty Nominated
Cannes Film Festival 22 May 2016 Palme d'Or Ken Loach Won [23]
Palm DogManitarian Award Ken Loach (showcasing a three-legged dog named Shea) Won
César Awards 24 February 2017 Best Foreign Film Ken Loach Won [24]
Denver Film Festival 14 November 2016 Special Jury Prize: Best Actress Hayley Squires Won [25]
Empire Awards 19 March 2017 Best British Film I, Daniel Blake Won [26]
Best Director Ken Loach Nominated
Best Male Newcomer Dave Johns Won
Best Female Newcomer Hayley Squires Nominated
European Film Awards 10 December 2016 Best Film I, Daniel Blake Nominated [27]
Best Director Ken Loach Nominated
Best Actor Dave Johns Nominated
Best Screenwriter Paul Laverty Nominated
Evening Standard British Film Awards 8 December 2016 Best Film I, Daniel Blake Won [28]
[29]
Best Actor Dave Johns Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Hayley Squires Won
Best Screenplay Paul Laverty Nominated
Most Powerful Scene Award I, Daniel Blake Won
Golden Tomato Awards 12 January 2017 Best British Movie 2016 I, Daniel Blake 3rd Place [30]
Locarno International Film Festival 13 August 2016 Prix du public Ken Loach Won [5]
London Film Critics' Circle 22 January 2017 Film of the Year I, Daniel Blake Nominated [31]
British/Irish Film of the Year I, Daniel Blake Won
British/Irish Actor of the Year Dave Johns Nominated
British/Irish Actress of the Year Hayley Squires Nominated
Magritte Awards 3 February 2018 Best Foreign Film in Coproduction I, Daniel Blake Nominated [32]
New York Film Critics Online 11 December 2016 Top 12 Films I, Daniel Blake Won [33]
San Sebastián International Film Festival 24 September 2016 Audience Award: Best Film Ken Loach Won [34]
Stockholm International Film Festival 20 November 2016 Audience Award: Best Film Ken Loach Won [35]
Vancouver International Film Festival 14 October 2016 Most Popular International Feature Ken Loach Won [36]

References

  1. ↑ "I, Daniel Blake (15)". British Board of Film Classification. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  2. ↑ "I, Daniel Blake (2017)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  3. ↑ Lee, Benjamin (22 May 2016). "Cannes 2016: Ken Loach's I, Daniel Blake wins the Palme d'Or - live!". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  4. ↑ "Cannes Film Festival Winners: Palme d'Or To Ken Loach's 'I, Daniel Blake'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Palmarès 2016". Locarno.
  6. ↑ "2017 Film Outstanding British Film". BAFTA. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  7. ↑ Hodgson, Barbara (8 November 2015). "Award-winning director Ken Loach takes to the streets of Newcastle to shoot his latest feature film". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  8. ↑ Solutions, Starlight. "People :: Rebecca O'Brien". www.sixteenfilms.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 May 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  9. ↑ Gleiberman, Owen (12 May 2016). "Cannes Film Review: 'I, Daniel Blake'". Variety. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  10. 1 2 "I, Daniel Blake". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  11. ↑ "I, Daniel Blake reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  12. ↑ "'I, Daniel Blake' Is Ken Loach's Most Successful UK Release Ever". The Film Magazine. 24 October 2016.
  13. ↑ Gant, Charles (25 October 2016). "I, Daniel Blake scores impressive result at UK box office as Trolls takes top spot". The Guardian.
  14. ↑ "Iain Duncan Smith's predictable response after watching I, Daniel Blake". The Independent. 28 October 2016.
  15. ↑ "I, Daniel Blake producer responds to Toby Young, Iain Duncan Smith". inews.co.uk. 28 October 2016.
  16. 1 2 3 "Ken Loach and minister Greg Clark clash over 'fictional' I, Daniel Blake on Question Time".
  17. ↑ Kelly, Mike (19 October 2016). "Jeremy Corbyn urges film fans to go see Tyneside-set I, Daniel Blake".
  18. ↑ "PMQs: Corbyn tells May to watch I Daniel Blake film". www.bbc.co.uk. 2 November 2016.
  19. ↑ "The 2017 AFCA Awards". Australian Film Critics Association. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  20. ↑ Ritman, Alex (9 January 2017). "BAFTA Awards: 'La La Land' Leads Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  21. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (12 February 2017). "BAFTA Awards Winners List (LIVE)". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  22. ↑ Evans, Alan (1 November 2016). "I, Daniel Blake leads British independent film award nominations". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  23. ↑ "Cannes 2016". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  24. ↑ "PALMARÈS 2017 - 42 ÈME CÉRÉMONIE DES CÉSAR". Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  25. ↑ "AWARD WINNERS FOR 39th DENVER FILM FESTIVAL - Denver Film Festival". Denver Film Festival. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  26. ↑ Nugent, John (19 March 2017). "Three Empire Awards 2017: Rogue One, Tom Hiddleston And Patrick Stewart Win Big". Empire. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  27. ↑ Evans, Alan (7 November 2016). "Toni Erdmann leads nominations at European film awards". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  28. ↑ Moore, William (17 November 2016). "Evening Standard British Film Awards - The Longlist". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  29. ↑ Norum, Ben (9 December 2016). "Evening Standard British Film Awards: Kate Beckinsale and Hugh Grant Crowned". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  30. ↑ "Golden Tomato Awards - Best of 2016". Rotten Tomatoes. 12 January 2017.
  31. ↑ "'Moonlight' and 'Love and Friendship' Lead London Film Critics' Circle Nominations". Variety. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  32. ↑ Degré, Michaël (11 January 2018). "Magrittes 2018: vers un match Streker-Belvaux?". L'Avenir (in French). Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  33. ↑ "'Moonlight' Named Best Picture by New York Film Critics Online Association". The Hollywood Reporter. 11 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  34. ↑ Rosser, Michael (19 August 2016). "San Sebastian: 'I, Daniel Blake', 'Fire At Sea' in Pearls line-up". Screen Daily. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  35. ↑ Ramsay, Angela. "Ken Loach's I, DANIEL BLAKE Wins Stockholm Audience Award at Stockholm Film Fest". Vimooz.com. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  36. ↑ "Maudie Wins Coveted VIFF Super Channel People's Choice Award" (Press release). Greater Vancouver International Film Festival Society. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
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