Director: Ken Loach
Running Time: 94 Mins
Certificate: U
Extras: Full Uncut Interviews; Ken Loach Interview; Short Film; Trailer
Ken Loach’s latest documentary, THE SPIRIT OF ’45 is an interesting piece of work – essentially a documentary examining the social and political changes that took place following Great Britain’s emergence from World War 2, told from the perspectives of those who were there, the film is a fascinating and honest look at a country on the brink of total ruin and more importantly, how it picked itself back up again.
Loach’s interviews with historians, commentators and those who were there are informative and engaging, in particular the ones with those who were alive to see the changes in 1945. The director’s decision to shoot in black and white gives the documentary a wonderful continuity with the modern day footage and the archive material, whilst the sheer amount of topics that are discussed here are all covered in great detail.
If there’s any problem with the film, it’s that the last half hour feels like a separate film altogether. Jumping forward to the 1980s and the reign of Margaret Thatcher, Loach decides to look at how everything that was created in the 40s was dismantled and abolished by Thatcher’s government. Whilst it does link up with the rest of the film through it’s use of the same interviewees, the sudden change in focus does jar, and ultimately the film descends in to what feels like a group of people complaining about the way things have changed – hardly as interesting as the story of a ruined country rebuilding and renewing itself.
But that aside, THE SPIRIT OF ’45 is still an excellent piece of work – flawlessly edited and interesting throughout, it’s the perfect film for History Teachers and those with a great sense of national pride.
The Spirit of ’45 is available now on DVD from Dogwoof. You can buy it now via this handy link!
