Ken Loach’s latest film, The Old Oak, is a story of two traumatised communities thrown together. When a group of Syrian refugees are housed in a neglected former mining village in the north-east of England, what emerges is a complex story. The welcome isn’t instantly warm. But the story is infused with hope as common cause is found between a community of refugees fleeing war and a local area decimated by decades of government neglect.
When Loach casts his films, he always does it in a way that brings genuine authenticity to the work. And so it is with – with real-life Syrian refugees who now live in the north-east bringing lived experience to many roles. Loach says: “Casting is critical. It was clear that Syrians in the film should be those who have settled in the area. Paul [Laverty]’s script
