The Old Oak

The Old Oak is a 2023 drama film directed by Ken Loach and written by Paul Laverty. It is a co-production between the United Kingdom, France and Belgium. The Old Oak had its world premiere at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival where it competed for the Palme d'Or, and was released in the United Kingdom on 29 September 2023, by StudioCanal. Premise Pub landlord TJ Ballantyne, living in a previously thriving mining community in County Durham, struggles to hold onto his pub and keep it as the one remaining public space where people can meet in the town. Meanwhile, tensions rise when Syrian refugees are placed there, but Ballantyne strikes up a friendship with one of the refugees, Yara (Mari). Cast Dave Turner as TJ Ballantyne Ebla Mari as Yara Claire Rodgerson as Laura Trevor Fox as Charlie Chris McGlade as Vic Col Tait as Eddy Jordan Louis as Garry Chrissie Robinson as Erica Chris Gotts as Jaffa Cake Jen Patterson as Maggie Arthur Oxley as Archie Joe Armstrong as Joe Andy Dawson as Micky Maxie Peters as Tommy Debbie Honeywood as Tania Neil Leiper as Rocco