Skip to main content

The Old Oak

The Old Oak

The Old Oak

Dir. Ken Loach
113 min

Theatrical run starts April 26. Showtimes and tickets here.

County Durham used to thrive, but now the town, and its favorite pub, The Old Oak, are winding down. But when pub owner TJ and a young Syrian woman named Yara begin to form a friendship, hope once again emerges.

When the mines were operating, there were jobs, security, schools in County Durham, but now the town is a near-wasteland. The bitter townsfolk shuffle in to drown their sorrows and seek solace in each other’s company, especially the kind words of Old Oak owner, TJ. After a group of Syrian refugees is placed in the village, prejudices and anger rear up and threaten to tear this fragile world apart. Legendary Palme d’Or-winning director Ken Loach and longtime screenwriting collaborator Paul Laverty, team up to bring a quintessential neo-realist film about the changing working class. Loach, who is 87 years old, a favorite of film festivals around the world (including MSPIFF), has stated that The Old Oak will be his final film.

Film Details

Release Year: 2023
Runtime: 113 min
Country/Region: United Kingdom, France, Belgium
Language: English, Arabic
Print Source: Zeitgeist Films
Tags: Best of Fest, Drama, Immigration / Refugee

Cast/Crew

Director: Ken Loach
Executive Producer: Pascal Caucheteux, Grégoire Sorlat, Vincent Maraval
Producer: Rebecca O’Brien
Cinematographer: Robbie Ryan
Screenwriter: Paul Laverty
Editor: Jonathan Morris
Composer: George Fenton
Principal Cast: Dave Turner, Ebla Mari, Claire Rodgerson, Trevor Fox, Chris McGlade, Col Tait