The Old Oak
The Old Oak is the last pub standing in a once thriving mining village in northern England. There is growing resentment, and a lack of hope among the residents, but the pub and its proprietor TJ (Dave Turner) are a fond presence to their customers. When a group of Syrian refugees move into the floundering village, a decisive rift fueled by prejudices develops. The unexpected friendship between TJ and a young Syrian woman (Ebla Mari) opens new possibilities for the divided village in this deeply moving drama about loss, fear, and the difficulty of finding hope. Directed by master filmmaker Ken Loach; cinematography by his long-time collaborator Paul Laverty. (NR)