It’s official – an award-winning film director renowned for his socially-aware films with socialist ideals and intelligent treatment of issues such as poverty and homelessness is coming to Hitchin.
The critically-acclaimed and highly-respected director Ken Loach is visiting the town to attend a screening of his latest film I, Daniel Blake at a sold-out event at the Queen Mother Theatre on Tuesday.
His 2016 drama won the Palme d’Or at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. It portrays a 59-year-old carpenter in Newcastle fighting to collect his employment and support allowance after falling ill. Waiting to sign on at his Job Centre, Daniel befriends Katie, a young single mother who is also suffering through the Kafkaesque vagaries of the benefits system.
Veteran filmmaker Mr Loach has directed powerful cinema which has stood the test of time throughout his career – including powerful works such as his 1966 masterpiece Cathy Come Home, Kes (1969), My name is Joe (1998), The Navigators (2001) and many more.
Martin Burke of the North Herts People’s Assembly, the anti-austerity group helping to host the eagerly-awaited evening, told the Comet: “North Herts People’s Assembly are looking forward to having Mr Loach visit Hitchin for a screening of his latest film I, Daniel Blake.
“His films have always helped to highlight those without a voice in our society and help raise awareness of social injustices.
“The film highlights the conscious cruelty of this government who are imposing it vulnerable members of our society – along with the scandal of benefit sanctions forcing people to literally choose between eating and heating.
“It also seems fitting Mr Loach is visiting Hitchin at a time when Conservative councillors in our area, while preaching austerity, have voted themselves pay rises of between 11 and 19 per cent while attempting to close children’s playgrounds.
“Everyone is looking forward to the screening of his film and hearing him talk. We genuinely can’t wait.”
The event is sold out but search ‘I, Daniel Blake’ online for news on further screenings around the country.
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