It's A Free World Details

* * * This review contains spoilers * * *ShowHide

[Highly rated reviewer]

A very relevant film

The film follows Angie as she struggles to find herself in the world and take care of her young son. After being fired from her job she takes it upon herself to start a recruitment agency to bring cheap labour into England from eastern European countries. Although her intentions are good we learn throughout the film how difficult it is to keep things legitimate and even safe. Ken Loach does an amazing job of bringing this story out. It sends a strong message about immigration and labour without preaching. The story is essentially told from the corporations point of view through Angie and shows logic in their cost cutting measures, while at the same time presenting them as inexcusable. The film is gritty and even dirty looking which fits perfectly into the London underbelly that it is trying to show. Lastly the film begins and ends with the dynamic performance of unknown Kierston Wareing. Luckily she spoke at the screening because if she hadn't I wouldn't have been able to believe she was acting. A real star making performance that required nuance as well as strength. She created a real character who's decisions never seemed forced or contrived. I can't say enough good things about it, I hope that many people see this film so they can also appreciate it. The top notch script was created by long time Loach scribe Paul Laverty

Reasonable film on contentious issue

As a fan of Ken Loach I was looking forward to this,his latest offering.The subject matter,immigration,is currently extremely newsworthy.

As you'd expect with Loach he gets to the heart & seedy underbelly of the subject.He tries to show the reality of the desperation to not only get to Britain,but to find any (and I mean any!) form of work.

The 'gangmaster' featured here is female.After being forced to set up a business on her own,ironically after being dumped on by ruthless employers,she soon descends into immoral & illegal practices motivated by greed & occasionally fear.

The plot of the film is gritty & realistic but sometimes descends in to what I'd descibe as 'made for T.V. drama' which is the reason I only rate it with 3 stars.It somehow looks 'unprofessional'.May be this is what Loach was aiming for,but in my opinion it takes some of the quality & even enjoyment away from the film.

Good,but not on a par with some of Ken Loach's classics.