Watch I, Daniel Blake

I, Daniel Blake is a British drama film that was directed by Ken Loach and written by Paul Laverty. It was released in 2016 and stars Dave Johns as the titular character, with Hayley Squires and Sharon Percy in supporting roles. The film tells the story of Daniel Blake, a 59-year-old carpenter who has recently had a heart attack and is unable to work. He lives alone in his apartment in Newcastle, England, and struggles to navigate the bureaucratic maze of the UK's welfare system. He is assigned a job coach, who is unable to help him find work that he can physically do but is required to meet certain requirements to receive benefits.

At the same time, Daniel meets Katie, a young single mother with two children who has just moved to Newcastle after being evicted from her home in London. She too is struggling to make ends meet and is forced to turn to food banks to feed her family. The two become friends, and Daniel helps her out when he can, even though he himself is struggling.

As the film progresses, we see the daily struggles that Daniel and Katie face as they try to navigate a system that seems designed to thwart them at every turn. They must make constant trips to the Jobcentre, fill out endless paperwork, and attend mandatory appointments with job coaches who seem more interested in ticking boxes than actually helping them find work.

The film highlights the absurdity of a system that is supposed to help people but instead puts up barriers to those who need it most. It also shows the way in which people can come together in times of need, as Daniel and Katie form a bond that helps them through their struggles.

Johns gives a powerful performance as Daniel Blake, conveying both his frustration and his compassion for those around him. Squires is equally strong as Katie, bringing depth and nuance to a character who could easily have been a one-dimensional victim.

The film was hailed by critics for its realism and authenticity, with many praising the way in which it shines a light on the flaws in the UK's welfare system. It won the Palme d'Or at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, cementing Loach's reputation as one of the UK's most respected and politically engaged filmmakers.

In conclusion, I, Daniel Blake is a powerful and emotional film that tackles important social issues with honesty and authenticity. It is a reminder that behind every statistic and every headline, there are real people struggling to make ends meet in a system that seems designed to keep them down.

I, Daniel Blake is a 2016 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.8 and a MetaScore of 78.