The document examines how the film uses the genre of social realism to critique broader capitalist ideologies presented in mainstream cinema, such as the notion that hard work leads to success. It also explores how a film challenging capitalist norms can still exist within the current economic system. Political contexts of the time that may have influenced the making of an independent film are also considered.

1. I, DANIEL BLAKE
(LOACH, 2016)

2. THIS UNIT IS ALL ABOUT COLD AND
HARD FACTS. WE’LL BE DEALING WITH
MANY CONCEPTS, THEMES AND ISSUES,
BUT ULTIMATELY, YOU WILL BE MARKED
ON YOUR ABILITY TO MAKE ACCURATE
AND EXPLICIT REFERENCE TO FACTS

3. WHAT ARE SOME ISSUES WHICH AFFECT
OUR SOCIETY TODAY?

4. THE SOCIAL REALIST GENRE
• Social realist or social realism films tend to focus on the following themes:
• Issues that affect those most vulnerable in our society
• Often, but not always set in the north of England
• A depiction of the working class as being heroic

5. I DANIEL BLAKE – TRAILER ANALYSIS
• 1 - What makes this an independent film?
• 2 - What issues does this film focus on?
• 3 - In what ways are working class people shown to be heroic

6. Explain the ways in
which social and political
contexts may influence
independent films. Refer
to I, Daniel Blake to
support your points

7. THE CULTURAL INDUSTRY DICHOTOMY
Culture Industry
In what ways do these two concepts form a binary
opposition? And why is this important to us?

8. CAPITALISM
• “an economic and political
system in which a country's
trade and industry are
controlled by private owners
for profit, rather than by the
state”
That’s
us!

9. SO IF CAPITALISM IS OUR
DOMINANT IDEOLOGY,
THEN HOW IS THIS
REFLECTED IN
MAINSTREAM CINEMA?

10. BROADLY CAPITALIST DOMINANT IDEOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVES IN MAINSTREAM CINEMA
• Work hard, and you will reap the rewards, no matter where you started (‘The American
dream’…)
• Men and women are totally different… but they need each other!
• You can measure how successful someone is through how much they own
• The good guys always win, and the bad guys always lose
• Love is the answer to everything! If you have love, you don’t need money!

12. I, DANIEL BLAKE AND THE CULTURE
INDUSTRY
• In what ways does I, Daniel Blake challenge and critique
dominant ideological perspectives of capitalism and
classical Hollywood narrative?
• How can a film that challenges capitalist ideology exist
within a capitalist structure?

13. POLITICAL CONTEXTS
https://ww
w.youtube.
com/watch
?v=1DLb
Wo0N83c

14. Explain the ways in
which social and political
contexts may influence
independent films. Refer
to I, Daniel Blake to
support your points

15. I, DANIEL BLAKE: COLD, HARD FACTS
• Budget
• Earnings: Box office, opening weekend, digital sales, total number of screens, worldwide gross
• Opening weekend
• Ownership: Producer(s), Distributor(s)
• Director and actor resumes
• Critical and audience reception
• Funding: how did this film actually get financed?
• Awards- Palme d’Or