The “welfare state”.
Talk about conflicting goods. Few things are either embraced or loathed more than this particular political contraption. And how can everything not revolve here around your own particular experiences with it out in any one particular world?
This tale unfolds in modern day Britain. And we all know that a welfare state exists there. But what few of us will know is the extent to which there is a gap between what is portrayed in this film and what is likely to unfold “in reality” for the majority of those who do employ the welfare state there in the course of sustaining their lives from day to day.
Is it or is it not actually this “Kafkaesque”? Is this or is this not likely to happen?
After all, there is a liberal rendition of “the welfare state” and a conservative rendition. And, for the conservatives, the narrative generally falls along the lines of the individual being responsible for his or her own welfare. You are either able to manage on your own or you are not. And, if you can’t, it’s basically all your own damn fault. And, for some, it then becomes perfectly reasonable to hold those “on welfare” in contempt.
It all becomes entangled in one or another depiction of the “class struggle”. And, let’s face it, the global economy being what it is, the “welfare state” is [increasingly] being chipped away at year in and year out. Across the globe as it were.
At the heart of the matter is the realization that a bureaucracy revolves around a one-size-fits-all set of rules while each of us as individuals is embedded in our own very much unique set of circumstances. And here we have the bureaucrats from hell. That and the fact the state often does make qualifying for welfare a fucking nightmare for many.
As The Clash once put it of the British system:
“And number two
You have the right to food money
Providing of course
You don’t mind a little
Investigation, humiliation
And if you cross your fingers
Rehabilitation”
Another film in which the characters speak English and yet following their conversations can often be an ordeal. Thank god for subtitles on this one.
IMDb
[b]The film was shot in chronological order. Lead actress Hayley Squires was not given the entire script to read before filming. She only was given fragments as accompanying scenes were shot.
At the Cannes premiere, Ken Loach and his team were greeted with a rapturous 15-minute standing ovation after the official screening of I, Daniel Blake (2016).
In the film Daniel is offered a drink from the water cooler in the Jobcentre. Water coolers were removed from jobcentres in 2010 as part of the Tory cuts.
Director Ken Loach is the oldest Palme d’Or winner ever. When he won on 22nd May 2016 for I, Daniel Blake (2016), he was 79 years old.
From the end credits: A very special thanks to workers within the DWP [Department for Work and Pensions] and PCS [Public and Commercial Services] Union who provided us with invaluable information but who must remain anonymous.
All the women who work for the public agencies have the same haircut: bangs with a mid length straight bob.
The woman helping Hayley Squires’ character, Katie, in the much-discussed food bank scene was not an actor - she worked in the food bank, and was not told what was going to happen in the scene.
The incident involving Katie at the foodbank really happened to a woman in Glasgow who Paul Laverty met while researching his script. [/b]
at wiki: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I,_Daniel_Blake
trailer: youtu.be/ahWgxw9E_h4
I, Daniel Blake [2016]
Directed by Ken Loach
Amanda: Good morning, Mr Blake. My name’s Amanda. I’ve got a couple of questions here for you today to establish your eligibility for Employment Support Allowance. It won’t take up much of your time. Could I just ask firstly, can you walk more than 50 metres unassisted by any other person?
Daniel: Yes.
Amanda: Okay. Can you raise either arm as if to put something in your top pocket?
Daniel: I’ve filled this in already on your 52-page form.
Amanda: Yeah, I can see that you have but, unfortunately, I couldn’t make out what you had said there.
Daniel: Yes.
Amanda: Can you raise either arm to the top of your head as if you are putting on a hat?
Daniel: I’ve telt you, there’s nowt wrong with me arms and legs.
Amanda: Could you just answer the question, please.
And on and on and on.
[b]Daniel [to Amanda]: Listen, I’ve had a major heart attack. I nearly fell off the scaffolding. I wanna get back to work, too. Now, please, can we talk about me heart? Forget about me arse, that works a dream.
…
Daniel: When can I go back to work?
Doctor: Ah, not yet, that’s for certain.
…
Daniel [on the phone]: D’you know how long I’ve been on this phone? One hour, forty-eight minutes. Jesus Christ, that’s longer than a football match. It’ll cost a fortune.
Bureaucrat: I’m sorry, sir, but it’s been very busy.
Daniel: There must be some mistake. I’ve got a serious heart condition. I’m in rehab and the doctor’s told us I cannae go back to work. Now, I was getting the benefits fine until that bloody assessment.
Bureaucrat: I see you’ve only scored twelve points, er, and you need 15 to obtain benefits.
Daniel: Oh, points, that’s your game?
Bureaucrat: I’m sorry, sir, but according to our health, er, health care professional, you’ve been deemed fit for work.
Daniel: So she knows better than my doctor, a consultant surgeon and a physio team? Well, I wanna appeal.
Bureaucrat: Well, that’s fine, but you’ll have to first request a mandatory reconsideration.
Daniel: What the bloody hell does that mean?
Bureaucrat: It means the decision maker will reconsider it and if he comes to the same decision, you can then appeal.
Daniel: Right, well put us down for that, then.
Bureaucrat: Okay, sir, but you must wait to get a call from the decision maker.
Daniel: Why?
Bureaucrat: To tell you what the decision is.
Daniel: But that’s already been decided.
Bureaucrat: It is, but you’re supposed to get the call, before the letter.
Daniel: Well, is he gonna change his mind?
Bureaucrat: No, the call’s just to discuss the decision.
Daniel: Well, I know what the decision is, I’ve got the letter here in front of us. [/b]
And on and on and on.
Bureaucrat [at the government office]: If you’re ill, you have to apply for Employment and Support, get an assessment carried out.
Daniel: Well, I’ve done that but they’ve knocked us back.
Bureaucrat: Right, well if you’ve been deemed fit for work, your only option is Jobseeker’s Allowance. Or proceed with the appeal on Employment and Support.
Daniel: Well, can you give me a form for…You know, erm, Jobseeker’s Allowance and then an appeal form Employment and Support?
Bureaucrat: You have to apply online, sir.
Danieal: I cannot do that.
Bureaucrat: Well that’s how it is, sir. Or you can phone the helpline.
Daniel: Listen, you know, you give me a plot of land, I can build you a house. But I’ve never been anywhere near a computer.
Bureaucrat: D’you know what, we’re digital by default.
Daniel: Oh, here we gan. I hear this all the time on the phone, “I’m digital by default.” Well I’m pencil by default.
And on and on and on.
[b]Government worker [teaching Daniel to use the computer]: And, here we are. “Claim Jobseeker’s”. Okay? So double-click on that one. All right. And then we need to scroll right the way down here to continue. And that’s your, that’s your form there for you. So you need to run the mouse up the screen, click into there and pop your postcode in.
Daniel [takes the mouse and physically runs it up the screen]: Run the mouse up the screen, yeah? Okay. Yeah.
Woman: No. No, not quite like that.
…
Woman: What you need to do is get your cursor…
Daniel: “Your cursor”? It’s a fucking apt name for it.
…
Daniel [aloud to himself]: Oh, bloody hell. What’s this now? “Error”?
…
Daniel: This is driving me mental, this. I mean, what have I done now?
Man [trying to help him]: It’s frozen. Yeah.
Daniel: It’s frozen? Well…Well, can you defrost it?
Man: No, mate, I can’t.
…
China: Dan, don’t know why you’re applying for that after your heart attack. Right, now I’m printing your appeal form for Employment and Support Allowance. But you can’t appeal till they carry out a mandatory reconsideration.
Daniel: You mean, they could have given it to me just like that?
China: Dan, they’ll fuck you around, I’m warning you. Make it as miserable as possible. No accident. That’s the plan. I know dozens who have just given up.
…
Woman [on phone]: I have a note on the screen, sir, that you’re awaiting a call from the decision maker.
Daniel: Jesus, 55 minutes to hear all this again. Am I in a time warp?
Woman: You can’t proceed to the appeal or the mandatory reconsideration till you have the call from the decision maker.
Daniel: Well, can you ask him to phone us now, because I’ve got no income. I’ve got no pension and I’ve still got the bedroom tax.
Woman: I’ll make a note on my screen, sir.
Daniel: Well can you not give him the note now? You know, put it in his hand?
Woman: This is a call centre, sir.
…
Government employee: This is the Claimant Commitment form. You must commit yourself to spending 35 hours a week looking for work. Now that can be newspapers, agencies, and online via the Universal Job Match. You just fill in the details. But you must prove that you’ve done this as well, mind.
Daniel: Well I’ve been told by my doctor that I’m not supposed to go back to work yet.
Woman: Then you should apply for Employment and Support Allowance.
Daniel: I have, but I’ve been knocked back by some quack and now I’m trying to appeal.
Woman: Okay. Well that’s your choice, Mr Blake.
Daniel: No, it’s not my choice. I’ve got no other form of income.
Woman: Do you want to sign this or not? [/b]
And on and on and on.
Woman: Now can I have a look at your CV?
Daniel: “CV”?
Woman [holding up a phamphlet]: You still don’t get this, do you, Mr Blake? This is an agreement between you and the State.
Daniel: I’m desperate to go back to work.
Woman: If you’re desperate to get back to work…
And on and on and on.
Man [running the CV workshop]: Ten seconds. Ten short seconds. That’s how much a typical employer spends flipping through a CV. Fact. Sixty applications for every low-skilled job. Fact. For a skilled job, it’s twenty to one. Fact. Costa Coffee advertised eight jobs. D’you know how many applications they got from that? Over 1,300. Fact. So, what does that mean?
Daniel [to the man next to him]: We should all be drinking a lot more bloody coffee.
Speaker: Yeah, d’you wanna share that with us?
Daniel: I said, we should all be drinking a lot more bloody coffee then.
Speaker: This is serious business and people have only got one shot at this, all right?
Daniel: Well if you can count, it’s obvious. There’s not enough jobs. Fact.
CVs? Note: “In Britain the document that you use to apply for a job is called a CV. That stands for ‘curriculum vitae’, which in Latin means ‘(the) course of (my) life’. In America, this document is called a resumé, which is basically French for ‘a summary’.”
[b]Daisy: Mum, what’s going on?
Katie: It’s okay. It’s okay I’m just really hungry. Okay, don’t look at me.
Daniel: No, no, no, it’s okay, it’s okay. There’s no harm done.
Katie: I can’t cope, Dan. I feel like I’m going under.
Daniel: Look, you’ll get through this, darling. Katie, listen to me. This isn’t your fault. You’ve done amazing. Dumped up here, on your own with two kids. You’ve done nothing to be ashamed of.
…
Harry [on the phone]: Hi, Daniel, it’s Harry Edwards here. We spoke the other day at the garden centre when you came down and handed your CV. I tell you what, mate, I’ve been going through all the CVs I’ve had handed over the last couple of weeks. And I really like the look of yours. Erm, you’ve got the experience I’m looking for. I was wondering if you could possibly, er, pop by tomorrow and that for an interview?
Daniel: Oh… I’m really sorry, er, Mr Edwards, but, you know, er, my doctor’s told us I cannae come back to work yet.
Harry: So you’re not actually looking for work, then?
Daniel: Well, it’s hard to explain, you know.
Harry: So, well, what’s the point of handing in your CV if you’re not looking for work?
Daniel: Well it’s the only way I can get me benefits, you know?
Harry: “Benefits”? So you prefer to be on benefits than do a day’s graft? You know, I thought you were a genuine bloke. You know, I’ve spent a lot of time going through them all. I’ve… I was gonna put some graft your way. You’ve just wasted my time completely. Why don’t you just sod right off!
Daniel: Listen, that’s not…
[Harry hangs up]
…
Sheila [Government worker]: Well that’s not good enough, Mr Blake. And how do I know you’ve actually been in contact with all these employers?
Daniel: Well, I walked round the town. I gave out me CV by hand.
Sheila: Well, prove it.
Daniel: How?
Sheila: Well, did you get a receipt? Take a picture with your mobile?
Daniel: I give you my word that’s what I did.
Sheila: That’s not good enough, Mr Blake…I’m afraid I’m gonna have to refer you to a decision maker for a possible sanction for four weeks. Your payment will be frozen. You may be entitled to Hardship Allowance if you apply. Do you understand? And if you are sanctioned, you must continue to look for work and sign on. If you don’t, you may be sanctioned again. And it’s likely to be for thirteen weeks on the second occasion, and thereafter. And likely to be the maximum of up to three years. [/b]
Meanwhile, all the time he has been forbidden to return to work by his doctor!
Daisy: The girls at school are making fun of me.
Katie: Why are they making fun of you?
Daisy: My shoes fell apart.
Katie: Oh, did they? But we glued them back together. Mmm. They fell apart again? All right, we can get you a new pair of shoes.
Daisy: We don’t have the money.
Katie: Don’t you worry about that, we can get you a new pair of shoes.
How you might ask.
[b]Ivan [on the phone]: Hello?
Katie: Hello, is that Ivan?
Ivan: It is, yeah. Who’s that?
Katie: It’s, it’s Katie, the girl at the supermarket. You gave me…You gave me your phone number.
Ivan: Okay, I remember you.
Katie: Yeah, I was, erm…I was ringing about the work that you were talking about.
…
Katie [who in desparation has turned to prostitution]: Oh, no, Dan.
Daniel: Katie, you don’t need to do this.
Katie: You shouldn’t see me like this. I’m sorry…This is separate. Can you…You need to get out.
Daniel: Listen, I couldn’t speak to you in the flat, I need to speak to you now.
Katie: Dan, please, get out.
Daniel: Oh, Katie, please, I need to speak to you. I just wanna speak to you. Katie!
Katie: Dan, please, just go. Dan, please, I don’t want you here! Will you just go, please!
DanieL This is breaking my heart.
Katie: Dan, please, just leave me alone. I’ve got 300 quid in my pocket. I can buy the kids fresh fruit. If you can’t deal with it, I can’t see you any more. Listen, I’ve gotta go back inside. D’you understand? I don’t wanna speak to you any more. And don’t show me any more love. Cos you’re gonna break me, Dan.
…
Ann: I don’t understand. So what jobs have you actually applied for?
Daniel: It’s a monumental farce, isn’t it? You sitting there with your friendly name tag on your chest, Ann, opposite a sick man looking for nonexistent jobs, that I can’t take anyway. Wasting my time, employers’ time, your time. And all it does is humiliate me, grind me down. Or is that the point, to get my name off those computers?
…
Ann: Please listen to me, Dan. It’s a huge decision to come off JSA without any other income coming in. Look, it… It could be weeks before your appeal comes through. You see, there’s no time limit for a mandatory reconsideration. I’ve got a time limit. And you might not win. Please, just keep signing on. Get somebody to help you with the online job searches. Otherwise, you could lose everything. Please don’t do this. I’ve seen it before. Good people, honest people, on the street.
Daniel: Thank you, Ann. But when you lose your self-respect, you’re done for.
…
Daniel [with a can of black spray paint to the government buidling walls]: I DANIEL BLAKE DEMAND MY APPEAL DATE BEFORE I STARVE…AND THE SHITE MUSIC ON THE PHONES
…
Daisy [through the mail slot]: Dan. Dan! Come, I need to talk to you. We called you loads of times. Dan! Mum’s been so sad lately. Why don’t you speak to her? Don’t you have credit on the phone? I see you. We understand what happened to your heart. Mum spoke to one of your neighbours. We didn’t know about it. It’s cold out here. I’m freezing.
Daniel [from inside]: Please, Daisy, I’m not feeling very well.
Dasiy: I made you some couscous. And Dylan sent you his lollipop. He’s really missing you, too.
Daniel: Just go, Daisy, please.
Daisy: Can I ask you one question, Dan? Did you help us?
Daniel: I suppose so.
Daisy: So why can’t I help you?
…
Lawyer: Daniel, your appeal will be heard by a legally qualified chairperson and a doctor.
Daniel: Aye, fingers crossed. If I lose this appeal, I’m out on the streets.
Lawyer: Well, we’ve got some updated reports here from your GP, your own consultant and your physiotherapist. And they’re all furious. You’re gonna win this, Dan. I do this every week. Just be yourself, answer the questions and relax. I’m really confident.
…
Katie [in church after Daniel dies of a heart attack]: They call this a “pauper’s funeral” because it’s the cheapest slot, at 9:00. But Dan wasn’t a pauper to us. He gave us things that money can’t buy. When he died, I found this on him. He always used to write in pencil. Erm… And he wanted to read it at his appeal but he never got the chance to. And I swear that this lovely man, had so much more to give, and that the State drove him to an early grave. And this is what he wrote. “I am not a client, a customer, nor a service user. I am not a shirker, a scrounger, a beggar, nor a thief. I’m not a National Insurance Number or blip on a screen. I paid my dues, never a penny short, and proud to do so. I don’t tug the forelock, but look my neighbor in the eye and help him if I can. I don’t accept or seek charity. My name is Daniel Blake. I am a man, not a dog. As such, I demand my rights. I demand you treat me with respect. I, Daniel Blake, am a citizen, nothing more and nothing less.” Thank you.[/b]