In the film I, Daniel Blake various different types of people are displayed with semi-stereotypical characteristics. Daniel Blake is the protagonist in the film, the movie follows his life and the struggles he faces when trying to apply for benefits after having a serious heart attack. Blake is a 59 year old white man who is shown to be resilient and resourceful when he is faced with the most difficult of situations. Daniel Blake represents the older generation who want the best for themselves and will stop at nothing to get it. In addition Daniel also represents the stereotype that the older generation cannot use technology as he struggles to be able to apply for his appeal.
Both Daniel and Katie represent the lower classes of the country, having to turn to benefits for help. Both of them show their class in a positive light as they are as welcoming and helpful to each other as possible. The only time they go against each other is when Katie turns to her last resort of prostitution and doesn’t want to see Daniel anymore after he finds out, as she doesn’t like that side of herself. Although the job she has isn’t the most prestigious, the fact that she is doing it to make money for her children shows how good of a mother she is, as she puts her children’s needs before hers, consequently changing the audiences opinions about Katie and other people in real life who follow her line of work.
On the other hand by being lower class the protagonist is automatically discriminated against by the working class managers at the job centre, they are misunderstood as time wasters who just want money so they can spend it on pointless goods, when in reality they are good people who want to rebuild a life fore themselves. The managers feel superior as they control the lives of everyone they meet in the centre, not knowing the true force of their actions. By showing the managers as strong, authoritative, hegemonic characters it could evoke pity and empathy from the audience who might think it is the customers and not the managers who are difficult when it comes to finding a job.
Age is also an important divider in the film. As Daniel Blake is an older man he is cast aside and not given help when he informs the job centre he can’t use a computer to make his CV and apply for his appeal. As well as the fact he isn’t being helped, is the stereotype that older people can’t use technology. By emphasising this stereotype Loach shows the audience how difficult it is for the older generation to live in our modern and everchanging world. At the other end of the spectrum is the youth representation in the film, Katie’s children are young and innocent, Daniels neighbour is an aspiring entrepreneur. The youth are shown as a symbol of hope for the future,and a symbol of change and promise.
Although the film may seem forced and does seem to show a very extreme example of what can happen to someone who is on benefits, it also shows how the benefit and class system destroys lives. This will hopefully leave the audience questioning the rules they abide by and whether there is a need for change.
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