‘I, Daniel Blake’ review: “Realistic, alarming and fury inducing”

I Daniel Blake review: Ken Loach thankfully u-turns on his decision to retire with this excellent drama focussing on the British support system.

Ken Loach returns two years on from his last picture for this in-competition entry at Cannes 2016, Our I Daniel Blake review from this year’s festival.

Ken Loach threatened that his last movie, Jimmy’s Hall back in 2014, would indeed be his last. Thankfully, the legendary British film-maker threats were just that as he returns to Cannes with a new drama after proclaiming that his return to the screen was because there are still many stories to tell and so many characters to present – even at the youthful age of 80.

I, Daniel Blake takes place in Newcastle and revolves around the title character, expertly played by Dave Johns. Daniel Blake has just lost his wife, had a serious heart attack, and now faces life on his own. Having undergone rehabilitation, Daniel has been deemed fit for work, but has had an accident which hinders him of returning fully, and the film focusses on his journey through the Department For Work and Pensions, and back into employment, jumping the hurdles put in the way by the bureaucracy of the British support system. Along the way he befriends single mother Katie (Hayley Squires), who has moved to the area from London with her son and daughter. Katie is in a similar situation, also trapped on the tough, thin line between income support and employment, and Daniel offers a hand to help get her on her feet.

Loach’s latest is a near perfect examination on the part of society that it is portraying. An unflinching look at the system that raises a lot of questions, most of them without answers of the world in which some people live, many of them without choice. Loach has assembled a superb cast, once again opting for the right person for the role rather than a star to sell his picture – most of them make their acting debuts with the film. Dave Johns, a stand-up comedian in his homeland, was chosen by Loach because of ‘the tradition of the stand-up being rooted in working class experience.’  Johns is near perfect in his portrayal of his character, a humble, grieving, decent man with only help to give and nothing to take from the state unnecessarily. Hayley Squires matches that performance with Katie, a single mother who many will obviously identify with, and her turn in practically flawless. In the film generally, there is a character or situation in which we can all identify; another quality of Loach’s supreme film-making skills.

I, Daniel Blake is perhaps one of Loach’s best from recent years, and certainly one of the most witty, honest, and impactful dramas we’ve seen of late. It is also realistic, alarming and fury inducing. A true highlight of Cannes so far.

I Daniel Blake review by Paul Heath at the Cannes Film Festival 2016.

I Daniel Blake will be released in 2016.

Catch all of our Cannes ’16 coverage here