MOVIES AT LA PLAZA—THE OLD OAK: "Solidarity, not charity!"

Movie Review by Sergio Martinez

"Solidarity, not charity," says T.J. Ballantyine (Dave Turner) in one of those defining moments in the plot of The Old Oak. Before that happens, however, a series of events will be unleashed on the small northern English seaside town where the action takes place. The village had once seen better times when it had been an active coal mining centre. With the closure of the mine had come the inevitable decline and the men, old miners now retired, only find a moment's recreation in the local pub, The Old Oak, the very same - its sign with its last letter dislocated - witness to the village's decline.

Even the pub's sign is a witness
to the village's decline

Director Ken Loach, undoubtedly one of the leading exponents of cinema with a social connotation, once again presents us with the consequences of economic policies, such as the closure of coal mining under the Thatcher administration, and the effects on the people who suffer them. However, on this occasion, Loach uses more emotional mechanisms than in other films. It is difficult not to be moved by several of the scenes, which show on the one hand the toughness and determination of these men, and at the same time their vulnerability.

Dave Turner as T.J. Ballantyne
delivers a solid and emotional performance

The arrival of a group of Syrian refugees introduces an element that will change the place and arouse various reactions. While the villagers are already going through difficult times, the arrival of the refugees, sent there by the central government, tends to inflame tempers and awaken the hitherto hidden prejudices.  In fact, the reception of the refugees by the locals is far from welcoming: in one incident, one of them, enraged because a young Syrian woman carrying a camera has taken a picture of him, reacts violently against her, and the camera is damaged in the melee.

Yara (Ebla Mari) is a young
refugee and a photographer

Yara (Ebla Mari) is a young refugee, one of the few fluent English speakers. She finds support in T.J. Ballantyne's attempt to repair her camera. The pub owner along with Laura (Claire Rodgerson) deploys a relief effort by collecting some necessities for the refugees and toys for their children. This work, however, generates some resentment on the part of those who point out that the citizens of the country have also needs, some families have problems putting food on their table, so they do not see well that the refugees are helped and not them: "charity begins at home" says one of them.

The Syrian refugees introduce
a new factor in the already troubled village

The awareness of the situation of many of these English families will lead them to look for a new approach to solidarity: immigrants and refugees are not the cause of the state of affairs that preceded their arrival. Refugees and locals must then look for a formula to alleviate part of the crisis affecting the whole community. Even so, not everyone will be very happy with the transformation of their pub into a sort of community cafeteria and will try to derail the project.

Only a distant event will bring back a sense of solidarity to the small community, and then both the local inhabitants and the newcomers will feel that they are sharing in the pain of one of the families.

Running time: 1 h 53 min.