Best British Film at BAFTA: “I, Daniel Blake”

Best British Film at BAFTA: “I, Daniel Blake”

At the same time as the Berlinale there were also the BAFTA Film Awards.  This year the award for Best British Film went to the movie “I, Daniel Blake” by the 80-year-old director Mr. Ken Loach. The film tells the story of a middle-aged carpenter, Daniel Blake (Dave Johns), who was left unemployed after a major heart-attack. The movie shows the government’s bureaucratic points-based allowance system, which makes many honest middle-aged or older citizens unqualified for well-deserved support today.

Director Loach said, “In the real world it’s getting darker and in the struggle that is coming between the rich and the poor and the wealthy and the privileged and the big corporations and the politicians who speak for them and the rest of us on the other side – film makers know which side they are on and despite the glitz and glamour of occasions like this, we are with the people.”

Even though some major newspapers decided not to post it, his speech touched many people in the world, including Nicole Kidman who presented the award.  Like he said in his earlier speech: “We must give a message of hope, we must say another world is possible,” his movie shows his passion and love for the people.