The Old Oak – A Simplistic Yet Disarmingly Resonant Drama

On its surface, The Old Oak resembles a film that is content with delivering a small and simple story centering around a pub’s survival in a small Northeast English town, but it’s through this disarming approach the film slowly unpacks a much deeper and resonating dilemma as well as delivering its strongest and lasting message – hope. The film offers a well-trodden narrative; a small town village populated with people who have endured hardships and choose to carry on even as businesses slowly leave their town, but adds in a modern twist of having displaced Syrian refugees who are fleeing a warzone within their borders colliding with the village’s quiet way of life. TJ (Turner), the owner of The Old Oak pub, sees this as an opportunity to aid those who have relocated through his growing friendship with Yara (Mari), one of the refugees, much to the chagrin of several of the townspeople. The Old Oak itself begins to take shape as the battleground where long-time locals now have contested space with refugees but slowly gives way as a place to commune and eat with others from the town as a way to bring everyone together.

The beauty of The Old Oak is shown best through its unassuming actors as their lines might not contain long monologues and major moments of triumph with gradually building music all leading to a monumental scene, but instead, are filled with quiet tangible fear, uncertainty, regret, and most of all, hope. These emotions are realized so clearly that any audience can empathize with any one of the characters’ situations and outlooks which only build upon the strength of the film, allowing for an amazing payoff of that emotional investment. Additionally, beauty is realized in the town of Durham where this story takes place. Despite decades of hardship as the mines have closed and others have relocated, the backdrop of The Old Oak manifests as its own character through its rows of empty shops and houses, open countryside, and rocky beaches. The duality of these locations being used to enhance the notion of Durham being a desolate and slowly fading place begins to change into a message of potential and what might be as the refugees and townspeople begin to grow closer progressing the belief that from these empty spaces, something new can be created.

At the end of the day, The Old Oak offers such a wonderful display and analysis of change and the fear that it can usher in, but also the blessings that can come from a collective accepting its presence and simply choosing to do the right thing despite uncertainty. From this choice, the hope of what may come can drive many, even an entire town that has been written off, to come together in strength. This film perfectly captures these empathetic moments while also quietly championing all viewers to resemble the same if ever given the chance. For The Old Oak, its simplicity is its greatest storytelling asset as it takes a very modern problem and simply asks, “What if kindness was offered?” as a solution.

still courtesy of Zeitgeist Films

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Critics w/o Credentials

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