The Old Oak

An individual standing in front of a building with a sign that reads “THE OLD OAK.” The person appears to be reaching up towards one of the crooked sign letters with a stick or tool to fix it. The building has a traditional facade, suggesting it might be

The Old Oak is a special place. Not only is it the last pub standing, it is the only remaining public space where people can meet in a once thriving mining community that has now fallen on hard times after 30 years of decline. TJ Ballantyne (Dave Turner) the landlord hangs on to The Old Oak by his fingertips, and his hold is endangered even more when the pub becomes contested territory after the arrival of Syrian refugees who are placed in the village. An unlikely friendship develops when TJ encounters a young Syrian with a camera, Yara (Ebla Mari). Can they find a way for the two communities to understand each other? So unfolds a deeply moving drama about loss, fear and the difficulty of finding hope.

The Old Oak screens as part of our "Worth a Watch" series. Courtesy of Zeitgeist Films.

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