I, Daniel Blake 2016

In this powerful drama, Ken Loach shines a light on the resilient spirit of Daniel Blake, a widowed woodworker whose life is turned upside down after a heart attack leaves him unable to work. As he navigates a broken system, Daniel's determination to protect his dignity sparks a chain reaction of compassion and hope for those around him.

In this powerful drama, Ken Loach shines a light on the resilient spirit of Daniel Blake, a widowed woodworker whose life is turned upside down after a heart attack leaves him unable to work. As he navigates a broken system, Daniel's determination to protect his dignity sparks a chain reaction of compassion and hope for those around him.

Does I, Daniel Blake have end credit scenes?

Yes!

I, Daniel Blake does have end credit scenes.

Actors

Meet the cast of I, Daniel Blake and learn about the talented actors who brought the characters to life. Explore their roles and career highlights.


Ratings

Discover how I, Daniel Blake is rated on popular platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Explore audience and critic scores to see how this movie ranks among the best.


Metacritic

78

Metascore

7.9

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

%

TOMATOMETER

review

0%

User Score

IMDb

7.8 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

77

%

User Score

Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of I, Daniel Blake with an engaging quiz. Test your memory of the movie’s characters, plot twists, and unforgettable moments.


I, Daniel Blake Quiz: Test your knowledge on the poignant drama 'I, Daniel Blake' and its themes surrounding welfare and bureaucracy.

What is the primary occupation of Daniel Blake before his health issues?

Plot Summary

See more

Get the full story of I, Daniel Blake with a detailed plot summary. Dive into its themes, characters, and the twists that make it a must-watch.


Widower Daniel Blake, portrayed by Dave Johns, is a 59-year-old carpenter living in Newcastle who has experienced a heart attack at work. Following his health setback, his cardiologist advises against returning to work, yet a work capability assessment surprisingly deems him fit, resulting in the denial of his employment and support allowance. The assessment is conducted by a non-medical professional, who merely collects answers without grasping their implications.

This disheartening situation illustrates how the Government’s employment and support services have outsourced their responsibilities to a private agency, stripping the process of essential human touch. Frustrations escalate when Daniel discovers that his doctor was never contacted regarding his work capability and that the application process for an appeal is daunting, especially since he lacks computer skills.

In his struggle for support, Daniel forms a bond with Katie, a single mother played by Hayley Squires, who faces her own hardships after being sanctioned for arriving late at a job center. Recently relocated from a London homeless hostel to Newcastle, Katie and her children find themselves without affordable housing. Daniel steps in to assist by repairing items, sharing advice on heating their home without electricity, and crafting wooden toys for the children.

Next door lives China, portrayed by Kema Sikazwe, an African American man engaging in shady dealings by using Daniel’s address to receive shipments of counterfeit shoes from China, which he sells at discounted rates. Amidst this turbulent scenario, Daniel is ensnared in the welfare bureaucracy after his application for employment benefits is denied. Despite being instructed by his doctor not to work, he is pressured to seek jobs in order to qualify for Jobseeker benefits.

As David navigates this maze of bureaucracy, his appeal for benefits remains stagnant, as it must go through a lengthy reconsideration process. The agency then sanctions Daniel for not demonstrating sufficient effort in job searching, leading to a nerve-wracking four-week Job Seekers Allowance sanction, with potential subsequent sanctions lasting up to 13 weeks or more.

Despite the warnings of sympathetic agency worker Ann (Kate Rutter), Daniel decides against continuing his Job Seeker allowance. Meanwhile, Katie faces dire circumstances; overwhelmed by hunger, she breaks down at a food bank and, later caught shoplifting, is offered a job in a brothel. Concerned for her, Daniel confronts her at the brothel and pleads with her to leave the job, but she tearfully insists that she has no other way to provide for her children.

Fulfilling the conditions of Job Seeker’s allowance requires Daniel to continue job hunting. However, he declines an opportunity at a scrapyard, respecting his doctor’s advice against working too soon. Frustrated by the agency’s demands, he protests, spray-painting “I, Daniel Blake, demand my appeal date before I starve” on their building. This act garners sympathy from the public, including fellow benefit claimants, but ultimately leads to his arrest and a warning.

In a desperate bid to escape his mounting despair, Daniel isolates himself and sells most of his belongings. Yet, an act of kindness from Daisy, played by Briana Shann, Katie’s daughter, who brings him a homemade meal, revives his spirit.

On the day of his appeal, Katie stands by Daniel’s side in court, where a welfare adviser expresses confidence in his case. However, upon seeing the judge and the doctor assigned to determine his fate, anxiety overwhelms him, leading to another heart attack in the restroom, resulting in his untimely death.

At Daniel’s public health funeral, Katie reads a poignant eulogy, reciting his planned appeal speech. In it, Daniel articulates the deep disappointment he felt about how the welfare system failed him, reducing him to a mere number rather than recognizing him as a man who had contributed honorably to society.

© 2024 What's After the Movie?. All rights reserved.