The final film from British master Ken Loach (Sorry We Missed You, Kes), The Old Oak is a deeply moving drama about loss, fear, and the difficulty of finding hope. The Old Oak is the last pub standing in a once thriving mining village in northern England, a gathering space for a community that has fallen on hard times. There is growing anger, resentment, and a lack of hope among the residents, but the pub and its proprietor TJ are a fond presence to their customers. When a group of Syrian refugees move into the floundering village, a decisive rift fueled by prejudices develops between the community and its newest inhabitants. The formation of an unexpected friendship between TJ and a young Syrian woman named Yara opens up new possibilities for the divided village.

For in-depth thoughts on The Old Oak, please see my colleague Dave Giannini’s review from its original theatrical release here.

Video Quality

The Old Oak comes to Blu-Ray in a really wonderful 1080p presentation. The gentle aesthetic is realized perfectly with cinematography that reveals an incredible amount of detail. Skin tones look very textured and natural all around with subtle facial characteristics easily distinguishable. The film is not replete with vivid colors, but there are certain flourishes in the production design and articles of clothing that reveal deep nuances within the hues. The interiors are typically a more reserved environment that the presentation represents perfectly with the appropriate richness. The highlights are handled with care along with the blacks that do not appear to suffer from any compression artifacts or crush. This presentation delivers the goods.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with both a DTS-HD 5.1 and 2.0 Master Audio track that executes every auditory element with precision. The subtle environmental effects create a three-dimensional soundscape that makes this small town come alive. The film uses music in effective ways that heighten emotions while filling the room. Dialogue comes through clearly without ever being overshadowed by the sound effects or the score. Activity in the low end is very subtle and far from the standout element of the track. The audio does everything that is asked of it. Optional English and English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Deleted Scenes: An 18-minute collection of unused material is provided here that contains tiny moments that did not make the final cut. Nothing major is in here, but it is worth watching if you enjoyed the film.

Theatrical Trailer: The nearly two-and-a-half-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

The Old Oak is an impactful final from Ken Loach that tackles hot-button issues that fit neatly into the filmography of the auteur. The execution can be a bit blunt, but it is in line with the hatred that unfortunately can be found quite easily in real life. The performances feel genuine and lived-in, especially the dynamite Ebla Mari. The narrative gets bonus points for making us tear up in the end. If this does stick as the final film from Loach, it is an admirable note to go out on. Zeitgeist Films has provided a Blu-Ray featuring a great A/V presentation and a small selection of special features. This is one that more people should be seeking out. Recommended

The Old Oak is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Zeitgeist Films and Kino Lorber have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.