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The Old Oak – so-called because it’s the name of the last remaining pub in the area – opens with one of many Syrian families moving into Newcastle-upon-Tyne area, the area run-down and deprived like many, thanks to years of the Tories ruining the entire country, the plot also referring back to the miners’ strike in the early ’80s, because closing the mines completely destroyed all the jobs in the town.
Although set in 2016, in the light of Ukraine’s invasion by Putin, this is very much a film for our times, with many immigrants escaping a war-torn country to come to the UK, and getting hassle from some local individuals, partly because the company housing them can knock the house prices down to £8000 apiece, as well as one major irritant breaking new arrival Yara’s (Ebla Mari) camera.
But it’s as her path crosses with pub landlord Tommy (Dave Turner – Sorry We Missed You) that they become firm friends, in a film which is very heartfelt, and hangs together better than the trailer would suggest, although I still couldn’t understand that when they first meet and she introduces herself, why does he give his full name – Tommy Jo Ballantyne – on their first meeting? That’s not a natural conversation.
There’s also a scene where Yara takes a local girl home when she falls ill at school, and gets into an argument with the girl’s mother, who thinks she’s broken in, rather than taking a moment to simply listen to her… as such, it does get rather predictable as to how certain scenes will go, and it shows where the screenplays fall down in an otherwise great film from Ken Loach (I, Daniel Blake).
As for the area, it’s very much a local place for local people, and there’s nothing for anyone else there – even to the point where they want to use the pub’s function room to have a meeting to kick them out.
But for Tommy and Yara, they’re like 2 lost souls who have found each other. Their parents have brought them up well, his telling him, “The family that eats together, sticks together”, while since Yara’s family came to the UK, they’ve been trying to find out if her Dad is still alive, who’s still back in Syria.
Add in two lads with Bully XL-type dogs, and how Yara’s apparently a good photographer – but takes pictures indoors without a flash?!… and we do have a film that’s well worth watching, even though it does have some scripting shortcomings.
Still, Ken Loach is 87, and when it comes to the issues this country faces today, he is absolutely bang on the money, and I hope he continues to make many more.
The Old Oak is in cinemas now, and is available to pre-order on Blu-ray and DVD, with the release date yetto be confirmed.
You can also buy the script in Paperback and Kindle.
Detailed specs:
Cert: 
Running time: 113 minutes
Release date: September 29th 2023
Studio: Lionsgate Movies
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Cinema: Studiocanal UK
Rating: 8/10
Director: Ken Loach
Producer: Rebecca O’Brien
Screenplay: Paul Laverty
Music: George Fenton
Cast:
TJ Ballantyne: Dave Turner
Yara: Ebla Mari
Tania: Debbie Honeywood
Charlie: Trevor Fox
Ryan: Lorenzo McGovern
Rosie: Laura Lee Daly
Rocco: Neil Leiper
Garry: Jordan Louis
Jaffa: Chris Gotts
Max: Alex White
Chopper’s Owner: Reuben Bainbridge
Amy: Andrea Johnson
Joe: Joe Armstrong
Eddy: Col Tait
Michelle: Abigail Lawson
Older Neighbour: Rob Kirtley
Maggie: Jen Patterson
Tony: Jake Jarratt
Garry’s Pal: Lloyd Mullings
Sadie: Chris Braxton
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.