The Old Oak
A pub landlord and a Syrian refugee form an unlikely bridge between a struggling former mining community and the newcomers it fears.
Overview
A poignant exploration of community resilience in the face of change and adversity.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- humanistic
- melancholic
- empathetic
- thoughtful evening
- social justice film night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's humanistic social realism, emotional force, and performances while finding it somewhat sentimental.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story centers on a former mining village hollowed out by mine closures, cheap housing, and the collapse of local prospects.
TJ, Yara, and other villagers seek common ground as Syrian refugees settle among locals who initially resent their presence.
Ken Loach places a pub, working-class residents, and refugee integration at the center of a contemporary Northern English community drama.
The Old Oak operates in a Northeast England village where coal mine closures have left the town economically and socially fractured.
Films like The Old Oak, and why
I, Daniel Blake
shared humanistic social realism, working-class community conflict, and concern with solidarity amid economic hardship
Sorry We Missed You
shared British social realism, precarious working-class lives, and emotionally direct political storytelling
Kes
shared intimate community drama, economic decline, and compassionate attention to marginalized people
The Visitor
shared refugee integration themes, cultural misunderstanding, and earnest cross-community empathy
Movie Details
- Director
- Ken Loach
- Release Date
- 2023-09-29
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (443)
Cast
- Dave Turner
- Ebla Mari
- Claire Rodgerson
- Trevor Fox
- Chris McGlade
- Col Tait
- Jordan Louis
- Chrissie Robinson
- Chris Gotts
- Jen Patterson
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Kino Film Collection
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Old Oak about?
- A pub landlord and a Syrian refugee form an unlikely bridge between a struggling former mining community and the newcomers it fears.
- What is The Old Oak like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Old Oak as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Old Oak violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Old Oak as mild.
- What did critics think of The Old Oak?
- Critics broadly praised the film's humanistic social realism, emotional force, and performances while finding it somewhat sentimental.
- Which films are like The Old Oak?
- Films with a similar feel include I, Daniel Blake, Sorry We Missed You, Kes, and The Visitor.
- How long is The Old Oak?
- The Old Oak runs 113 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Old Oak?
- In United States, The Old Oak streams on Kino Film Collection.
