I, Daniel Blake

What do you notice about the visual style of the film?

• monochrome and desaturated colour palette

• bleak filming style

• high levels of verisimilitude due to authentic locations

• gritty dialogue

• character driven

• down to earth low production value (no CGI)

• unknown actors

• diegetic sound only

• off balances Todorov’s equilibrium theory - no end resolution

How is it different from mainstream films?

Focuses on social realism rather than a made-up world.

Key themes addressed in the social realism genre:

• working class life

• social issues

• political and religious issues

• cultural representation

• humour and seriousness

• class conflict

• interracial relationships

• sexuality, abortions

History and intentions of the genre:

late 1950s-early 1960s, coinciding with british new wave movement

aims to provide a voice for marginalised communities, offering critical insights into social issues and challenge societal norms

How does this film seem typical of Ken Loach’s films?

• Newcastle setting - focuses on Britain's working class

• Criticism of institutions and systems that are dysfunctional

• Character driven with non-actors within

• Social-political themes included

How is Ken Loach’s name used to sell the film in the trailer?

• Well-known - star promise

• Auteur - distinctive style, all of his own ideas, integrity

CRITICAL ACCLAIM

‘Ken Loach is back with a protest cry for common humanity’

‘A work of scalding and moving relevance’ 

‘The pure anger and humanity will stop you in your tracks’

Which political view does the film embody?

Left wing

Where did the funding for the film come from?

• UK/French co-production. 

• UK funding for the film → BFI (through National Lottery funding) BBC Films,

• European funding came from Why Not Productions (France) and Wild Bunch (Germany).

Why is the film said to be critically acclaimed and successful?

• highly critically acclaimed

• generated a lot of debates

• exhibited at many film festivals

• won the Palme d’Or at Cannes

• nominated for many awards including several BAFTAs.

Which genres and stylistic features are typical of the films funded by the BFI and BBC Films?

BFI FILMS → focus more on fantastical films that are set in different time periods (think bridgerton type) with royalty. Includes some social realism films set during the war era, but mainly focuses on films which aren’t the current reality.

BBC FILMS → is more realistic, they have new movies which are social realism

What similarities does I, Daniel Blake have to the films typically funded by the BFI and BBC Films?

• high realism film

How did the Zenith Media marketing campaign use social media to promote the film?

• Tactics of a political movement – engaged politic groups to talk about them on social media

• Facebook filter 

• Partnership with daily mirror to show free screenings

• Film’s protagonist given his own column

• Support from the mirror

• Film doubled revenue at box office

• Social conversations continued for seven months after

• Entered mainstream public conscience

How are links made between real people and the fictional character of Daniel Blake?

How might this help to promote the film?

That everyone is a human, that noone is ‘just a number on a screen’ or a ‘customer’ that everyone is like daniel blake with rights and the right to be respected. Citizens.

Raise awareness for people living in this situation - word of mouth to others about it

Why do you think the disruptive display advertising used in the Daily Mirror was effective for this particular film?

• Stands out a lot - direct address with ‘you’ makes it feel a lot more targeted towards the person reading it as an individual so they are less likely to skip over the page and read it instead as they think that it may concern them and they are worried.

• Also a lot of percentages, numbers and statistics used within his column which are highlighted which draws attention as it is bold and makes people aware of the situations in the country.

How does the trailer establish the film’s credibility and critical acclaim?

• Logos → palme d’or award, bbc logo

• The star reviews + critical acclaims from the times and everything

• Real life  situation

• Authentic real life locations

• Unknown actors to make it seem more realistic