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I, DANIEL BLAKE
This was my first Ken Loach. But definitely not my last. ‘I, Daniel Blake’ is a restrained but straining social commentary about the coldhearted cruelty done to a kindhearted man. Unfortunately, that kind heart holds some complications following a heart attack, which forces him to stay out of work but in return work even harder to stay in society. The government is not exactly helpful to someone like Daniel Blake, who suddenly finds himself hopelessly stuck inside a ridiculous societal roundabout that sends him spiraling down through a grim governmental mentality that might end in debt – or even worse – death.
Ken Loach seems to be the type of director who doesn’t try to create the perfect scene… he captures it… seizes the moment. His approach isn’t about artificiality but about allowance – allowing the scene to breathe on its own and restraining from interfering too much, which ultimately proves rewarding… especially the more impactful moments hit even harder because of the even tempo and eased telling of the story. Everything is extremely grounded. There are no obvious build ups, no rapid change in editing and no sudden charge of music. Loach is clearly in complete control of his film and operates almost entirely in the background and lets the foreground establish itself along the way. It is almost like he just lets go of his characters and let them tell the story for him. His confidence in material is sublime, which may not be much of a surprise, considering he has worked with the same screenwriter for more than 20 years.
I honestly really love the storytelling on display here, and it reminds me of directors like The Dardenne’s and Nuri Bilge Ceylan. It is in a way anonymous but never without personality, and you are easily drawn into the film because there are no fancy film elements to distract you from the story and characters unfolding on screen. I loved the unconcerned humor in otherwise concerning situations, as well as the slight satirical absurdity of it all, which ultimately cemented this story as a deeply unpleasant, yet determinedly uplifting journey of a man left behind by society. A regular bloke just trying to get by. Daniel Blake isn’t trying to make an overstatement; he’s merely trying to reach an understanding about how someone can overlook what is right just to uphold what is written. Daniel Blake is the John Doe of our world, representing the everyday man in what is unfortunately an everyday situation for many...
There is so much to take away from this film and I haven’t even scratched the surface… but no matter what I say, I think Daniel Blake himself is the right man to have the final words… "I am not a client, a customer, nor a service user... I am not a shirker, a scrounger, a beggar, nor a thief… I'm not a National Insurance Number or blip on a screen. I paid my dues, never a penny short, and proud to do so. I don't tug the forelock but look my neighbor in the eye and help him if I can. I don't accept or seek charity. My name is Daniel Blake. I am a man, not a dog. As such, I demand my rights. I demand you treat me with respect. I, Daniel Blake, am a citizen, nothing more and nothing less.” Aye, Daniel Blake, aye.
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This was my first Ken Loach. But definitely not my last. ‘I, Daniel Blake’ is a restrained but straining social commentary about the coldhearted cruelty done to a kindhearted man. Unfortunately, that kind heart holds some complications following a heart attack, which forces him to stay out of work but in return work even harder to stay in society. The government is not exactly helpful to someone like Daniel Blake, who suddenly finds himself hopelessly stuck inside a ridiculous societal roundabout that sends him spiraling down through a grim governmental mentality that might end in debt – or even worse – death.
Ken Loach seems to be the type of director who doesn’t try to create the perfect scene… he captures it… seizes the moment. His approach isn’t about artificiality but about allowance – allowing the scene to breathe on its own and restraining from interfering too much, which ultimately proves rewarding… especially the more impactful moments hit even harder because of the even tempo and eased telling of the story. Everything is extremely grounded. There are no obvious build ups, no rapid change in editing and no sudden charge of music. Loach is clearly in complete control of his film and operates almost entirely in the background and lets the foreground establish itself along the way. It is almost like he just lets go of his characters and let them tell the story for him. His confidence in material is sublime, which may not be much of a surprise, considering he has worked with the same screenwriter for more than 20 years.
I honestly really love the storytelling on display here, and it reminds me of directors like The Dardenne’s and Nuri Bilge Ceylan. It is in a way anonymous but never without personality, and you are easily drawn into the film because there are no fancy film elements to distract you from the story and characters unfolding on screen. I loved the unconcerned humor in otherwise concerning situations, as well as the slight satirical absurdity of it all, which ultimately cemented this story as a deeply unpleasant, yet determinedly uplifting journey of a man left behind by society. A regular bloke just trying to get by. Daniel Blake isn’t trying to make an overstatement; he’s merely trying to reach an understanding about how someone can overlook what is right just to uphold what is written. Daniel Blake is the John Doe of our world, representing the everyday man in what is unfortunately an everyday situation for many...
There is so much to take away from this film and I haven’t even scratched the surface… but no matter what I say, I think Daniel Blake himself is the right man to have the final words… "I am not a client, a customer, nor a service user... I am not a shirker, a scrounger, a beggar, nor a thief… I'm not a National Insurance Number or blip on a screen. I paid my dues, never a penny short, and proud to do so. I don't tug the forelock but look my neighbor in the eye and help him if I can. I don't accept or seek charity. My name is Daniel Blake. I am a man, not a dog. As such, I demand my rights. I demand you treat me with respect. I, Daniel Blake, am a citizen, nothing more and nothing less.” Aye, Daniel Blake, aye.
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