Ken Loach Films to Screen at Rio’s Caixa Cultural in April

By Beatriz Miranda, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Next Tuesday, April 3rd, Caixa Cultural, located in Centro, opens the exhibit “O Cinema Político de Ken Loach” (The Political Cinema of Ken Loach), dedicated to the filmography of the renowned British director. Until Sunday, April 15th, the event will screen 22 of Loach’s movies, and also promote two panel discussions.

Curated by Claudia Oliveira and Fernanda Bastos, the exhibit aims to honor the 81-year-old filmmaker who cannot stand still in contemporary social challenges, which are thoroughly depicted in his films with humor, sensibility, and insight.

The line-up includes Loach’s earliest productions, such as the award-winning “Looks and Smiles” (1981), which was never released in Rio’s movie theaters; “Hidden Agenda” (1990), starring Frances McDormand; and “Land and Freedom” (1995), a film about Spain’s Civil War and winner of the European Film Award and Cesar Award.

Recent productions like “The Wind that Shakes the Barley” (2006) and the documentary, “The Spirit of ’45” (2013) will also be screened at Caixa Cultural.

Working behind the cameras for a long time (having first started as a TV director for BBC in 1983), Loach has already directed over 50 productions, including documentaries, fiction, and TV series.

Highly influenced by the British “Free Cinema” movement, Loach’s filmography is known for its strong political engagement. He has already portrayed controversial themes such as exploitation of the working class and illegal immigration.

Over 50 years as a distinguished film director, Loach received 11 awards from the Cannes Film Festival (he was nominated 13 times) and has also won a Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.

In 2016, Loach gained much attention for his latest release, “I, Daniel Blake” (2016), one of the most talked about drama films in recent years. The film won 11 awards from important film festivals across Europe and the United States. “I, Daniel Blake” is a response to the agenda of the British conservative party, which has recently returned to power.

Apart from the films, the event will also hold two debates on Loach’s work. On Saturday, April 7th, curator Fernanda Bastos, and journalist and film critic Rodrigo Fonseca (who has already interviewed Loach several times) will discuss the British director’s filmography.

On Friday, April 13th, Professor Sérgio Veloso from the International Relations Department of University PUC-Rio (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro) will run a commentary session of the documentary, “The Spirit of ’45”.

What: “O Cinema Político de Ken Loach” (The Political Cinema of Ken Loach)
When: April 3rd to April 15th – see venue to check time details
Where: Caixa Cultural do Rio de Janeiro – Avenida Almirante Barroso, 25 – Centro
Entrance: R$2 – R$4