Editorial: Bravo, Ken Loach – please accept our medal instead
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It is always reassuring when someone in the public eye turns out to be all of a piece. One such is the TV and film director Ken Loach, who has just proved once again that you cannot put a cigarette paper between his art, his life and his beliefs.
He has caused a bit of a fuss by turning down a premier award at the Turin Film Festival after learning of wage and staff cuts at the event's chief sponsor, the National Museum of Cinema. The festival retaliated by cancelling its screening of his latest film, The Angels' Share.
In a characteristically forthright statement, Mr Loach said that it would be "weak and hypocritical" to accept the award – hypocritical not only because of his personal politics, but because his film Bread and Roses featured a campaign by office cleaners to join a trade union in defence of their rights. This, he observed, was exactly the situation at the cinema museum in Turin, where cleaning and security are being outsourced to a private company with all the predictable results.
So we salute Ken Loach for putting his principles before the Gran Premio Torino, and hope he continues to speak out in support of those who otherwise struggle to be heard.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments