I, Daniel Blake 2016- Ken Loach

I, Daniel Blake and many other of Ken Loach's films are almost a statement against the UK government and how it affects a variety of people. The use of un stereotypical characters and emotional plots allows Loach to reach out to his audience and show them the effects that poverty can have on people.

The protagonist, Daniel Blake, would not typically strike the audience as one they can empathise with, or even feel sorry for. Despite this, his struggles throughout the film effectively touch the audience and provoke the audience into thinking about the large population of the UK going through the same struggles as him. At the start of the film, we can hear Daniel Blake getting his assessment which decides if he can have benefits or not but we cannot see anything. The use of the black screen with diegetic sound is effective in creating tension. The audience can’t see what is happening, mirroring Daniel’s feelings of not knowing what the outcome of his medical will be. Another way in which this is effective is that the audience’s thoughts are instantly provoked. Loach uses his films to portray his discontent with UK politics and to also question the system. The black screen is almost like a blank canvas giving the audience an opportunity to begin to draw their own view on the system.

Despite following Daniel Blake. We also follow the misfortunes of the character Katie, a single mum with two children; Dylan and Daisy. Loaches two main characters allows him to further portray what issues he believes is wrong with UK politics. Daniel represents the issues behind the benefits system from a man who is incapable of working and the benefits system from a family's point of view. Katie’s genuine efforts show a hidden side of families on benefits. It is very typical to see documentaries or news articles and it can portray these families, especially the parents, as lazy and that they abuse the benefit system. Katie puts herself in harm's way to look after her children and keep them safe. The scene in the food bank shows how far she would go for her children. Loach hints at the audience in previous scenes that she has not been eating, but the scene in the food bank shows her breakdown. The fact that she is so desperate for food she steals a can of beans and begins to eat them in front of people is extremely powerful.

Her breakdown can also be seen as her opening up to Daniel. She is portrayed as a proud mother and a strong mother, who is almost embarrassed to show weakness.The relationship between Daniel and Katie is a safe haven for eachother. It gives Daniel the opportunity to keep himself busy.

In the final scene, Katie reads out Daniel’s appeal speech for benefits. This scene is incredibly moving and is effective in presenting Loach’s feelings towards the benefits system. The final scene ties up the whole film in one message. Loach balances the hurt of Daniels death and the issues he had to face in one scene.