The Old Oak is the latest film from Ken Loach, renowned for his critical directing style and socialist ideals which are evident throughout his long filmmaking career of tackling issues such as poverty (Poor Cow), homelessness (Cathy Come Home), and labour rights (Riff-Raff).

This time Loach tackles immigration, and xenophobia. TJ Ballantyne is hanging on to his pub, The Old Oak, by his fingertips in a cash-strapped village in the North East. His predicament is further endangered when the pub becomes contested territory after the arrival of Syrian refugees who are placed in the village without any notice.

In an unlikely friendship TJ meets a curious young Syrian Yara (Ebla Mari) with her camera. Can they find a way for the two communities to understand each other?

Rumoured that this may be the final film that Loach will direct The Old Oak has been described as Loach's 'fierce final call for compassion and solidarity'.

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