Set in the bleak rural landscape of post-Brexit North England, “The Old Oak” tells a deeply human tale about Syrian refugees and the local resistance against their peaceful assimilation. The story begins in 2016 when the town is well-past its heyday, thanks to the closure of coal mining pits that left most of its resident workers in the lurch. Mr.Ballantyne aka TJ (Dave Turner) runs a pub named The Old Oak – an aging local establishment where the locals come to down their pints and air out their disgruntled grievances. The frigid economy has forced everyone into a vicious mindset focussed on survival amidst scarcity. This contextualizes the backlash when the municipality welcomes a bunch of Syrian refugees to reside in the town. The movie centers on one of the new arrivals, Yara (Elba Mari), an observant photographer who has experienced the uncertainties of life due to political turmoil back in Syria. Yara is a people’s person. She captures the best essence in everyone, be it through her photography or through her good-faith interactions with the townsfolk. She develops a daughterly bond with TJ and provides him the nourishment of human connection, as he grapples with some profound personal losses. Soon, The Old Oak becomes a thriving community space for inter-dining and communion that brings together everyone with food and laughter. But the plot develops additional melodramatic twists that depict a community’s capacity for hatred as well as hope.
Director Ken Loach has chosen to foreground the story in racist violence and othering perpetuated by the local townsfolk, but what lingers much longer is a primal longing for empathy and communion. There are many moments for political education – the oft-forgotten workers’ solidarity against capitalist oppression is highlighted against the sense of social alienation felt by the ex-miners. The humanitarian and charitable tendencies of local churches, unions and community centers are invoked through reminiscent musings. Negative attitudes against welfare for political refugees are challenged by dialogues that throw light on the oppressive Syrian regime. But this movie is most persuasive for its emotive story-telling. Yara’s camera functions as a tool of documenting a wide range of lived realities, woven beautifully into the overall narrative. Everyone’s acting is very convincing, with frames lingering on brief moments of tenderness that tend to go unnoticed in tense situations. Yes, the movie depicts racial hatred, but it is harnessed to navigate more hopeful possibilities. It also depicts the somber reality of material poverty and online disinformation being forced upon poor white folk in less fortunate parts of the developed world. In this regard, it is a story told mainly by and for a privileged (mostly white) audience, but an important one at that.
The movie is a must watch for anyone who seeks to develop empathy for people who’ve lost their class-consciousness in the face of white supremacy. Watching this movie with friends and family is bound to invoke some relevant conversations, as we navigate escalating political and cultural aggressions that threaten to smother our capacity to love. “The Old Oak” brims with emotive sentimentality. This forces us to confront our inherent biases and gently urges everyone to seek the joy of choosing love over hate.
“The Old Oak” is currently playing at Vancouver Playhouse, as part of Vancouver International Film Festival. Book your tickets here.
– Annapoorna Shruthi