It's a Free World [DVD]

I saw this film in the cinema then decided to buy it to show my students who are learning English and studying Humanities. I find it thought provoking and so did my students. Students abroad all too often receive a picture of the UK as 'red buses or fish and chips' so this film helps to dispel some of those myths, as well as making the students think about what happens in their own countries with immigrant workers. I found the subtitles were essential because of the realism of the filming and dialogue. I would have liked to know for sure before purchase that subtitles were available - and in English, although, to be fair, they usually are.

For better or for worse, Ken Loach has always been one of British cinema's most socially conscious filmmakers. In 'It's a Free World...', Loach casts his eye on the employment of foreign workers (some legal, some otherwise) in present-day Britain. The film centers around an employment agency set up by Angie (a fantastic Kierston Waering) a young single mother unfairly sacked from her job finding work for Polish workers, and her friend Rose (Juliet Ellis), a University graduate tired of her dead-end job. They begin offering manual labour to unemployed emigrants, but, keen to increase their cash flow and keep their workforce from making demands upon them, Angie gets involved in the murky world of employing illegal immigrants. Rose becomes troubled by the risks, and gradually, things begin to falter around them. The tale is told with a sombre accuracy and commendable lack of schmalzy sentimentality by Loach (at least outside of a few incidents in the film's latter half), and Wareing, Ellis, and Leslaw Jurek - as Angie's romantic part-time boyfriend Karol - all put in superb displays.

Though the film as a whole is both unflinchingly truthful and raises important questions over identity, dignity, and the 'true' worth of money, there are a few missteps in the film. Loach lays the melodrama on rather thickly during the last half hour (though that's not to say this part of the film isn't moving), and the film does drag a little in places. Elsewhere, Loach fails to fill out a few reasonably promising characters, such as Angie's father; supportive, yet increasingly worried by her decision making. Still, this is a thought provoking, often gripping, and expertly acted work. Gone are the slightly bungled sentimentality and simplistic moral messages of some of Loach's earlier work, and this is to the credit of 'It's a Free World...'. If you're looking for a gritty and satisfying portrayal of the struggles and strife of Modern day Britain, and the way relationships and attitudes develop and change, I would highly recommend this film.

This is certainly one of Loach's better recent films. I wouldn't say it is brilliant, but there isn't anyone else out there making interesting, challenging and intelligent political films at the moment.

In terms of the script, the selection of the main character is really what turns the film from a boring also-ran into something quite clever. Angie is very much a modern woman - independent, perhaps not too academically smart but certain not stupid and prepared to work hard and ambitious for herself and her son - particularly given the Dad's utter uselessness. Very much one of Thatcher's children, her experience in the workplace is of people screwing her over - so the only way to get ahead is to do the same to others. To do this, she starts up an agency paying `starvation' wages to illegal immigrants. She justifies this to herself as doing them a favour - at least she is getting them employment.

It's a convincing, compelling performance, an accurate portrayal of a modern mindset - socially liberal, but politically only self-interested. It's done well that we both sympathise and revile Angie's behaviour. Without a character as carefully crafted as Angie - this film would be pretty dull and predictable. It certainly allows the film to rise considerably above the average.