Rent The Old Oak (2023)
3.7 of 5 from 140 ratings
1h 48min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
"The Old Oak" is a special place. Not only is it the last pub standing, but it's also the only remaining public space where people can meet in a once thriving mining community that has now fallen on hard times after 30 years of decline. TJ Ballantyne (Dave Turner) the landlord hangs on to 'The Old Oak' by his fingertips, and his predicament is endangered even more when the pub becomes contested territory after the arrival of Syrian refugees who are placed in the village without any notice. In an unlikely friendship TJ meets a curious young Syrian Yara (Ebla Mari) with her camera. Can they find a way for the two communities to understand each other? So unfolds a deeply moving drama about their fragilities and hopes. - Actors:
- Dave Turner, Ebla Mari, Claire Rodgerson, Trevor Fox, Chris McGlade, Col Tait, Jordan Louis, Chrissie Robinson, Chris Gotts, Jen Patterson, Arthur Oxley, Joe Armstrong, Andy Dawson, Maxie Peters, Reuben Bainbridge, Chris Braxton, Laura Daly, Debbie Honeywood, Jake Jarratt, Andrea Johnson
- Directors:
- Ken Loach
- Producers:
- Rebecca O'Brien
- Writers:
- Paul Laverty
- Studio:
- StudioCanal
- Genres:
- Children & Family, Drama
- Collections:
- Award Winners, BAFTA Nominations Competition 2024
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 15/12/2023
- Run Time:
- 113 minutes
- Languages:
- English Audio Description, English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Subtitles:
- Arabic, English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 1.85:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Deleted Scene
- Featurette Loach Legacy
- Featurette Together
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Reviews (3) of The Old Oak
Riveting. Superb in every aspect - The Old Oak review by AM
A village in the desolate ex-coal mining north-east of England where a few villagers live a depressed existence. They are more than threatened when family of Syrian refugees is housed in some of the old terraced housing...their true xenophobia surfaces as they attempt to oust the gentle foreigners who, in their desire to work hard and blend in are the least racist. The scene where the villagers gather to 'debate' the 'problem' is a masterpiece of group acting and dialogue as it exposes the small mindedness of rural people who are threatened and frightened by what they don't understand - for some of them the scene degenerates to angry racism. The local landlord does his best to stay neutral and at the same time offers help to the refugees and to deprived local families incurring the wrath of the small minded angry and vocal racists. A masterpiece of acting, direction and photography.
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Excellent film - The Old Oak review by AH
Considering none of the actors are well known, this production is very good indeed. So believable and engaging one feels drawn in and engaged with the characters, in particular the landlord of the pub who tries to help the plight of the Syrian refugees. The negative reaction of some of the local "regulars" is equally convincing and their highly negative reaction is a sad reflection of reality.
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Powerful Social Drama - The Old Oak review by GI
The latest and possibly the last film from director Ken Loach and another blisteringly powerful social drama that highlights, with brutal honesty and emotional intensity, the state of modern Britain. The Old Oak is a dilapidated pub in a Durham village, owned and run by TJ (Dave Turner), a former miner. He has a strong community spirit that extends to helping Syrian refugees who are housed in the village. This pits TJ against a few racist locals who have seen their own properties crash in value and whose families suffer from the collapse of the economy. TJ with the help of Syrian Yara (Ebla Mari) opens up the large and long shut up function room in his pub to try and bring the community together. Loach delivers his message with an intensity that cannot but be admired whatever your own political viewpoint may be and this film opens up questions for any reasonably minded person. But Loach delivers a balanced narrative here and attempts to show how a cauldron of false and biased social media and misconceptions affect the attitudes of people faced with deprivation and yet see strangers apparently being given an advantage. There are disturbing scenes here and a final uplifting conclusion that avoids a saccharine solution to Britain's problems. The film does suffer somewhat from the non professional actors who at times are clearly struggling but this is a minor criticism. A film well worth checking out.
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