I, Daniel Blake

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Curriculum links: This case study can be used for those studying 'Component 1: Section B – Film Industry' on the GCSE WJEC / Eduqas specification OR ‘AS Component 1: Investigating the Media’ and ‘A-Level Component 1: Media Products, Industries and Audiences’ on the A-Level Eduqas specification.


I, Daniel Blake is British director Ken Loach's twenty-sixth theatrical feature and his fourteenth with long-time scriptwriting collaborator Paul Laverty.

The film follows Daniel Blake, a 59 year old carpenter recovering from a heart attack, who befriends a single mother and her two children as they attempt to navigate their way through the frustrating benefits system.

Before submission to the BBFC, the film had appeared in competition at the Cannes Film festival, where it took home the coveted Palme D'Or against stiff competition from films such as the critically acclaimed German comedy Toni Erdmann. It was the second time Loach had won the prize, following the success of 2006's The Wind That Shakes The Barley.

In June 2016, the distributor, Entertainment One, sought advice from the BBFC, stating that they would like to release the film with a 12A age rating. Compliance Managers viewed a finished version and informed the distributor that the film would require a 15 category in its submitted form due to a use of very strong language (‘c**t’) and strong language (‘f**k’) throughout.

BBFC Classification Guidelines at 15 state that:

'Strong language is permitted. Very strong language may be permitted, depending on the context and frequency.’

Our Guidelines are shaped by extensive research we have conducted with thousands of people across the UK, who tell us that very strong language (‘c**t’) is appropriate in films classified 15 and above. The use of very strong language in I, Daniel Blake is said in anger, but is not particularly aggressive and is not aggravated by other factors.

As required, Compliance Managers informed Entertainment One that they would need to remove the use of very strong language and significantly reduce the number of uses of strong language in order for the film to be passed at the requested 12A.

Other issues in I, Daniel Blake are sex references, including to sex work, prescription drug use, criminality and discriminatory references, would have been suitable for a 12A audience.

After the Advice screening, a trailer was submitted for classification (see below); Compliance Officers noted that despite some of the challenging issues in I, Daniel Blake, the trailer appears fairly uplifting in tone and focuses on the friendship between Daniel and a younger single mother, Katie. Given its gentle approach, the trailer was classified at U. It is not uncommon for trailers to receive a different rating to the feature film they are associated with, as Compliance Officers consider everything in context.

I, Daniel Blake was submitted to the BBFC for formal classification in August 2016, with its release scheduled for October. It was submitted with a 15 request and passed at that category along with the content advice of ‘very strong language’.

The film was released on 21st October 2016, the same weekend as Disney's Trolls and the start of the autumn half-term school holidays. It took ninth place in the overall box office chart but, showing on only 94 screens as opposed to the 963 occupied by Trolls, its per screen average of £4732 was the third highest of that week, with the US action blockbuster sequel Jack Reacher: Never Go Back taking second place. It was Ken Loach's best ever opening and the film went on to further success on DVD and streaming services. 

We received no complaints about the film's rating.

Discussion Points

  • Ken Loach is known for his social realist style of filmmaking. What do you think I, Daniel Blake is trying to say about government; community; class; and poverty?
  • Daniel and Katie strike up an unlikely friendship in the film. In what ways is their situation the same? How is it different?
  • In what ways does Loach’s style of filmmaking encourage empathy with the film’s protagonists?
  • Why do you think Entertainment One sought a 12A rating for their film? What is the significance of the 12A classification?
  • Consider the trailer for I, Daniel Blake and its U rating. What audience is it trying to appeal to and in what ways?

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