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I, Daniel Blake

I, Daniel Blake

Drama · 2016

A 59-year-old carpenter recovering from a heart attack befriends a single mother and her two kids as they navigate the impersonal, Kafkaesque benefits system. With equal amounts of humour, warmth and despair, the journey is heartfelt and emotional until the end.

Movie details

I, Daniel Blake

“My name is Daniel Blake. I am a man, not a dog.”

2016 Drama 1h 40m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.7 / 10

Community rating

A 59-year-old carpenter recovering from a heart attack befriends a single mother and her two kids as they navigate the impersonal, Kafkaesque benefits system. With equal amounts of humour, warmth and despair, the journey is heartfelt and emotional until the end.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over I, Daniel Blake?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Ken Loach

Written by

Paul Laverty

Dave Johns

Dave Johns

Dan

Hayley Squires

Hayley Squires

Katie

Briana Shann

Briana Shann

Daisy

Dylan McKiernan

Dylan McKiernan

Dylan

Kate Rutter

Kate Rutter

Ann

Sharon Percy

Sharon Percy

Sheila

Kema Sikazwe

Kema Sikazwe

China

Court is in session

Put I, Daniel Blake on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.