Studiocanal UK has revealed the trailer for Ken Loach and Paul Laverty’s Cannes 2023 Palme d’Or contender The Old Oak, ahead of its UK and Ireland release on September 29.
Starring Dave Turner (Sorry We Missed You) and newcomer Ebla Mari, the film revolves around the titular The Old Oak, the last remaining pub in a declining town in northeastern England.
Turner plays pub landlord TJ Ballantyne who is hanging onto The Old Oak by his fingertips and faces fresh challenges when the pub becomes contested territory following the arrival of Syrian refugees, who are placed in the village without any notice.
He forms an unlikely friendship with a young Syrian woman ( Mari), who documents her new life with her camera, in a development that begins a difficult journey towards understanding between the two communities.
The film sees Loach return to the North East following his previous two films I, Daniel Blake, winner of the Palme d’Or and Bafta Outstanding British Film awards, and Sorry We Missed You, for which both also shot in the region.
Shooting took place across County Durham last year in locations including Murton, Easington Colliery and Horden.
Prior to the film’s world premiere in Cannes, 87-year-old Loach suggested The Old Oak would be his last film.
Once at the festival, however, Loach told the press conference that he was not sure whether it would be his final time behind the camera for a feature, although he suggested it would be a challenge as he approached his 90th birthday.
The film is directed by Loach, written by Laverty and produced by Rebecca O’Brien for Sixteen Films, continuing a long collaboration for the trio, which previously produced award-winning titles Sorry We Missed You, I, Daniel Blake and Looking for Eric.
The film is a Sixteen Films and Why Not production made with the support of the BFI, awarding National Lottery funding, and BBC Film, in co-production with Les Films du Fleuve.