Ken Loach

Ken Loach (1936–2024) was a British film director renowned for social‑realist films that examine working‑class life, labour issues and political conflict. He was a two‑time Palme d'Or winner and maintained a career focused on empathy and political critique.

Born 17 June 1936, died 23 May 2024. Known for a long career from the 1960s to 2024. Winner of the Cannes Palme d'Or for The Wind That Shakes the Barley (2006) and I, Daniel Blake (2016). Regular collaborator with screenwriter Paul Laverty; films frequently explore labour, welfare, migration and community.

Reviews on DeBaser present Ken Loach as a committed director of social‑realist cinema who focuses on working‑class lives, precarity and political conflict. His films are described as direct, empathetic and often devastating in their finales. Critics praise his clarity, moral urgency and sustained focus across decades. Recurring themes include solidarity, state bureaucracy and the effects of neoliberal labour practices.

For:Viewers interested in social‑realist and politically engaged cinema; readers curious about labour, community and contemporary precarity.