I, Daniel Blake
DirectorKen Loach
ProducerRebecca O'Brien
WriterPaul Laverty
Starring
MusicGeorge Fenton
CinematographyRobbie Ryan
EditingJonathan Morris
Production companies
Distributor
Released13 May 2016 (Cannes); 21 October 2016 (United Kingdom)
Runtime100 minutes[1]
Country
  • United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Gross$15.8 million[2]

I, Daniel Blake is a 2016 British drama film written by Paul Laverty and directed by Ken Loach. The film stars Dave Johns as Daniel Blake, a middle-aged man who is denied Employment and Support Allowance despite being declared unfit to work by his doctor. Hayley Squires co-stars as Katie, a struggling single mother whom Daniel befriends.

I, Daniel Blake won the Palme d'Or at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, the Prix du public at the 2016 Locarno International Film Festival,[3][4] and the 2017 BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film.[5]

Plot

Daniel Blake, a widowed 59-year-old joiner from Newcastle, has had a heart attack. Though his doctor has not allowed him to return to work, he is deemed fit to do so after a Work Capability Assessment and is denied Employment and Support Allowance. Daniel is frustrated to learn that his doctor was not contacted about this decision and thus applies for an appeal, a process Daniel finds difficult because he must complete forms online and is not computer literate.

Daniel befriends Katie Morgan, a single mother, after she is sanctioned for arriving late to her Jobcentre appointment. Katie and her children have just moved to Newcastle from a homeless shelter in London, as there is no affordable accommodation. Daniel helps the family by repairing objects, teaching them how to heat rooms without electricity, and crafting wooden toys for the children.

During a food bank visit, Katie breaks down crying, having become overwhelmed by hunger due to feeding her children instead of herself. After she is caught shoplifting at a supermarket, a security guard secretly offers Katie work as a prostitute. Daniel surprises her at the brothel where she goes to work and begs her to give up the job, but Katie tearfully insists she has no other way to feed her children.

As a condition for receiving Jobseeker's Allowance, Daniel must keep looking for work. He refuses a job at a garden centre because his doctor will not allow him to work yet. When his work coach tells him he must work harder to find a job or be sanctioned, Daniel spray paints "I, Daniel Blake, demand my appeal date before I starve" on the side of the building. Daniel earns the support of bystanders, including other people claiming benefits, but is arrested and cautioned by the police.

Daniel sells most of his belongings and becomes a recluse but is pulled out of his depression by Katie's daughter, Daisy, who brings him a homemade meal to repay Daniel for his kindness. On the day of Daniel's appeal, Katie accompanies him to the tribunal, where a welfare adviser tells Daniel that his case looks promising. Upon seeing the judge and doctor who will decide his fate, Daniel becomes anxious and excuses himself to use the toilet, where he suffers another heart attack and dies.

Later, Katie reads a eulogy at his public health funeral, including a speech he had intended to read at his appeal. The speech describes his feelings about how the welfare system failed him, and states, "I am not a blip on a computer screen or a national insurance number, I am a man."

Cast

Production

Principal photography began in October 2015 in Newcastle upon Tyne and the surrounding area.[6] The film was produced by Rebecca O'Brien[7] for Sixteen Films, Why Not Productions and Wild Bunch with the support of the British Film Institute and BBC Films.[8]

O'Brien initially approached Channel 4's film division for funding. After a delay, O'Brien said she was told by Channel 4 that funding was not available as "we're already covering the area because we're doing Benefits Street",[9] a programme that many saw as demonising people on state welfare.[10]

Marketing

I, Daniel Blake used a variety of marketing strategies to make sure Ken Loach's points got across to his targeted audience and that the film reached a wider audience, including disruptive marketing, street displays and newspaper inclusions. Ken Loach worked with the Trinity Mirror through the use of the editorial column of The Mirror and each newspaper had the "I" changed to reflect the main font of the film.[11]

The Trinity Mirror also provided 10,000 free tickets to see the movie as announced in one of their newspapers[12] and used Daniel Blake as the masthead for its papers. The House of Commons and other major buildings in London had projections of Daniel Blake's end speech placed onto the outside walls as part of its "Guerrilla Marketing Campaign".[13]

Ken Loach retweeted various tweets promoting the film and even started a hashtag #WeAreAllDanielBlake[14] which can mostly be found on the official I, Daniel Blake Twitter page.

Reception

I, Daniel Blake is Loach's biggest success at the UK box office.[15] On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 92%, based on 184 reviews, with an average rating of 8.01/10. The site's consensus reads: "I, Daniel Blake marks yet another well-told chapter in director Ken Loach's powerfully populist filmography."[16] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 78 out of 100, based on 31 critics, indicating "generally favourable reviews".[17]

Writing in the Observer, Mark Kermode gave the film five stars.[18]

Legacy

In 2017, Dave Johns took a solo show to the Edinburgh Fringe: I, Filum Star chronicled how Johns's life had changed since the success of the film, and received critical acclaim, playing to sold out rooms throughout the run. In 2019, he toured a new show, From Byker to the BAFTAs, with 24 dates from August until November that year.[19]

A stand-up comedy show titled I, Tom Mayhew was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe in August 2019. The stand-up comedian Tom Mayhew had previously been on benefits for over three years in "austerity Britain" and was inspired to write the show after watching the film.[20] The show was critically acclaimed, with it transferring to a sold-out run at the Soho Theatre in January 2020.[21]

Dave Johns wrote a stage version updated to the 2021/2022 cost of living crisis, which was set to be premiered at the Northern Stage, Newcastle upon Tyne in May 2023.[22] Following this sold-out run, it is touring throughout the rest of the year.[23][24]

Political response

The Conservative Party's then-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith, said the film was unfair and criticised its portrayal of Jobcentre staff: "This idea that everybody is out to crunch you, I think it has really hurt Jobcentre staff who don't see themselves as that."[25] The producer, Rebecca O'Brien, responded that Duncan Smith "is living in cloud cuckoo land".[26]

On the 27 October 2016 episode of the BBC topical debate programme Question Time, which had Loach as a panellist, the Conservative Party's then-Business Secretary Greg Clark described the film as "fictional" and said, "It's a difficult job administering a benefits system. Department for Work and Pensions staff have to make incredibly difficult decisions and I think they should have our support in making those decisions."

Loach responded by criticising the pressure that DWP staff are placed under: "We talked to hundreds of people who work at the DWP under your guidance and instructions, and they are told to sanction people. If they don't sanction them, they're in trouble." He later said, "When you're sanctioned your life is forced into chaos, and people are going to food banks. How can we live in a society where hunger is used as a weapon?"[27]

The Labour Party's then-Leader, Jeremy Corbyn, appeared at the film's London premiere and praised the film on his Facebook page.[28] During Prime Minister's Questions on 2 November 2016, Corbyn criticised the unfairness of the welfare system and advised then-Prime Minister Theresa May to watch the film.[29]

Accolades

List of awards and nominations
AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef(s)
Australian Film Critics Association7 March 2017Best International Film (English Language)I, Daniel Blake[30]
British Academy Film Awards12 February 2017Best FilmRebecca O'Brien[31]
Best Actress in a Supporting RoleHayley Squires
Best DirectionKen Loach
Best Original ScreenplayPaul Laverty
Best British FilmPaul Laverty, Ken Loach and Rebecca O'Brien
British Independent Film Awards4 December 2016Best British Independent FilmI, Daniel Blake[32]
Best DirectorKen Loach
Best ActorDave Johns
Best ActressHayley Squires
Most Promising NewcomerDave Johns
Hayley Squires
Best ScreenplayPaul Laverty
Cannes Film Festival22 May 2016Palme d'OrKen Loach[33]
Palm DogManitarian AwardKen Loach (showcasing a three-legged dog named Shea)
César Awards24 February 2017Best Foreign FilmKen Loach[34]
Denver Film Festival14 November 2016Special Jury Prize: Best ActressHayley Squires[35]
Empire Awards19 March 2017Best British FilmI, Daniel Blake[36]
Best DirectorKen Loach
Best Male NewcomerDave Johns
Best Female NewcomerHayley Squires
European Film Awards10 December 2016Best FilmI, Daniel Blake[37]
Best DirectorKen Loach
Best ActorDave Johns
Best ScreenwriterPaul Laverty
Evening Standard British Film Awards8 December 2016Best FilmI, Daniel Blake[38]
Best ActorDave Johns
Best Supporting ActressHayley Squires
Best ScreenplayPaul Laverty
Most Powerful Scene AwardI, Daniel Blake
Golden Tomato Awards12 January 2017Best British Movie 2016I, Daniel Blake[39]
Locarno International Film Festival13 August 2016Prix du publicKen Loach[4]
London Film Critics' Circle22 January 2017Film of the YearI, Daniel Blake[40]
British/Irish Film of the YearI, Daniel Blake
British/Irish Actor of the YearDave Johns
British/Irish Actress of the YearHayley Squires
Magritte Awards3 February 2018Best Foreign Film in CoproductionI, Daniel Blake[41]
New York Film Critics Online11 December 2016Top 12 FilmsI, Daniel Blake[42]
San Sebastián International Film Festival24 September 2016Audience Award: Best FilmKen Loach[43]
Stockholm International Film Festival20 November 2016Audience Award: Best FilmKen Loach[44]
Vancouver International Film Festival14 October 2016Most Popular International FeatureKen Loach[45]

References

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  3. ^ Lee, Benjamin (22 May 2016). "Cannes 2016: Ken Loach's I, Daniel Blake wins the Palme d'Or - live!". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
    - "Cannes Film Festival Winners: Palme d'Or To Ken Loach's 'I, Daniel Blake'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Palmarès 2016". Locarno
  5. ^ "2017 Film Outstanding British Film". BAFTA. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  6. ^ Hodgson, Barbara (8 November 2015). "Award-winning director Ken Loach takes to the streets of Newcastle to shoot his latest feature film". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Team Album > Rebecca O'Brien". Sixteen Films. Archived from the original on 18 May 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  8. ^ Gleiberman, Owen (12 May 2016). "Cannes Film Review: 'I, Daniel Blake'". Variety. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  9. ^ Chakrabortty, Aditya (10 October 2019). "Ken Loach: 'The airwaves should be full of outrage'". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  10. ^ Vallety, Paul (12 January 2014). "As 'Benefits Street' shows, we are quick to demonise and slow to understand". The Independent. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Daily Mirror (UK) Front Page for 14 October 2016 | Paperboy Online Newspapers". www.thepaperboy.com. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
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    - Gant, Charles (25 October 2016). "I, Daniel Blake scores impressive result at UK box office as Trolls takes top spot". The Guardian
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  28. ^ Kelly, Mike (19 October 2016). "Jeremy Corbyn urges film fans to go see Tyneside-set I, Daniel Blake". Chronicle Live
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  30. ^ "The 2017 AFCA Awards". Australian Film Critics Association. Archived from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
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    - Hipes, Patrick (12 February 2017). "BAFTA Awards Winners List (LIVE)". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
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  35. ^ "AWARD WINNERS FOR 39th DENVER FILM FESTIVAL". Denver Film Festival. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  36. ^ Nugent, John (19 March 2017). "Three Empire Awards 2017: Rogue One, Tom Hiddleston And Patrick Stewart Win Big". Empire. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  37. ^ Evans, Alan (7 November 2016). "Toni Erdmann leads nominations at European film awards". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
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  40. ^ "'Moonlight' and 'Love and Friendship' Lead London Film Critics' Circle Nominations". Variety. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  41. ^ Degré, Michaël (11 January 2018). "Magrittes 2018: vers un match Streker-Belvaux?" (in French). L'Avenir. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  42. ^ "'Moonlight' Named Best Picture by New York Film Critics Online Association". The Hollywood Reporter. 11 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  43. ^ Rosser, Michael (19 August 2016). "San Sebastian: 'I, Daniel Blake', 'Fire At Sea' in Pearls line-up". Screen Daily. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  44. ^ Ramsay, Angela. "Ken Loach's I, DANIEL BLAKE Wins Stockholm Audience Award at Stockholm Film Fest". Vimooz. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  45. ^ "Maudie Wins Coveted VIFF Super Channel People's Choice Award". Greater Vancouver International Film Festival Society. 14 October 2016. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.