The Old Oak

A group of movie enthusiasts gathered on the last Friday of January to watch Ken Loach’s latest movie: “The Old Oak.” The beautiful Cinecitta welcomed us to see life happen in front of us, with its good and bad sides: because, what else can you expect from a movie named after a pub if not the ups and downs and in-betweens of human drama? “The Old Oak” is not only the name of the movie but also of its protagonist: a decaying pub in a decaying English town. With this setting, Loach tells us the story of how, against all odds, things can begin again, how the past can inspire new futures, and how from diversity can come unity.

As far as the conversation was concerned, it seemed like the strength of the film was at the same time its weakness—or as someone said: “this does not happen in the real world!” And this is the power of Loach’s cinematography: leaving us wanting a world like this, a world where “regular people” get their own way through solidarity and the sheer force of their will. For some, the movie may seem utopian or even cruel; for others, it is precisely a testimony of a more humane society.

All in all, “The Old Oak” was definitely an engaging choice for our TIC movie night. What we saw on screen turned out to be a good reflection of our own experience that night: a group of people with very different backgrounds—immigrants, locals, from different generations—coming together and simply enjoying a pint together!