A film largely about the plight of Polish immigrants in London has won an award at this year's Venice Film Festival.
Ken Loach's It's a Free World won the best screenplay gong at the Italian extravaganza, losing out to Ang Lee in the best film category.
Mr Loach has been a hero of the European film world ever since his gritty film Kes was released in 1968. On seeing the film, the late Krzysztof Kieslowski declared that he would happily make tea for Loach so as to be able to study the workings of a master.
It's a Free World, Mr Loach's 25th feature film, centres around a charismatic working class London girl who sets up a company providing work opportunities for immigrants. She soon gets into problems, and as is characteristic of Mr. Loach, the film does not veer on the side of optimism.
Although the film garnered positive reviews in Venice, It's a Free World is not ear-marked for immediate theatre release. The premiere will be on Britain's Channel 4 later this Autumn.
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