A film based on research conducted in Nottingham of experiences of the benefits system won a BAFTA last night for ‘outstanding British film’.
I, Daniel Blake, directed by Ken Loach, is based on stories he uncovered when carrying out interviews at the St Anns’s Advice Centre.
A special screening was held for the film last month at the Arts Theatre in Nottingham, where Loach is a patron.
Tickets were given to clients and workers from St Ann’s Advice Centre and Emmanuel House because of the director’s visit to both places for inspiration.
The story follows a 59-year-old carpenter who is signed off work following a heart attack, and his subsequent battle with the benefit system.
Derry Shillito from Foyle River Films, who screened the film at the Arts Theatre back in January said: “The workers at St Ann’s advice centre are incredible, the work they do is incredible because of the cases they have to deal with are really hard, there are definitely problems in the benefit system and we do not know the half of it.
“Ken Loach did not pull any punches, it is a realistic film, it’s not like Rocky, there are triumphs within, but it’s not about that it is about the real situation that is happening, saying, let’s change it.”
He added: “The unemployment rate in areas like St Ann’s is very high and people their have creativity in abundance but no outlet for it.”
At the 70th British Academy Film Awards last, Loach delivered a politically-heated acceptance speech for the film.
He said: “Films can do many things, they can entertain, they can terrify, they can take us to world of imagination , they can make us laugh and they can tell us something about the real world we live in and in that real world it’s getting darker.”
The film has already netted more than £3 million at the box office in the UK alone.
