Review of I, Daniel Blake (2016) by Jon P — 13 Feb 2017

I, Daniel Blake is a controversial, challenging film from Ken Loach: the master of giving unlikely characters a mighty voice.

This moving albeit manipulative tale is part dignified drama, part scathing attack on the bureaucracy of Britain's benefits system; both of which are bashed together by continual contrasts between small town community spirit and ice-cold civil service staff.

Loach's small story stands for big politics, but even on the most basic levels of character, atmosphere and storytelling this is awe-inspiring, unadulterated cinema at its best. I, Daniel Blake is a film which both demands and deserves our attention.