The Sadness of the System and the Indifference of Human Nature

Rogers 2022-10-09 12:04:44

A film that reflects human nature and government policy. Blake, an old carpenter at a sawmill, was taken off work due to a heart attack. He has no source of income and can only apply for unemployment benefits or employment support, which can only be chosen. If you choose unemployment benefits, you must show the government that you are looking for a job; if you choose employment support, you must prove that you can work. And he himself is ill and can't work. He can only get unemployment benefits by looking for a job. Even if he finds a job, he can't go to work. He can only look for a job. Applying to the government for relief, but also online application, he can only use pencil to write and draw the old man, this is a lot of trouble. In the process of applying for relief, she also helped Katie, a single mother of two with two children, who also needed relief. The end is a tragedy. After suffering, Blake finally got the opportunity to appeal, but died of a heart attack. This film shows the contradiction between a diligent and honest good person and a bureaucratic system, a person who really needs relief and a bad form of relief system. Through the film, I found that the relief system does not want to support "lazy people", and many people in the society are also disgusted by such lazy people who live on relief, but the design of the system prevents good people from getting the relief they need. question. Just like the government departments in the film, they strictly follow the system, and there is no warmth, which leads to the tragedy, and knowing that there have been similar cases before, there is no mechanism to correct them.

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Extended Reading

I, Daniel Blake quotes

  • China: Dan, they'll f@ck you around, I'm warning you. Make it as miserable as possible. No accident. That's the plan. I know dozens who have just given up.

    Daniel: Well, they've picked the wrong one if they think I'm gonna give up. I'm like a dog with a bone, me, son.

  • [first lines]

    Amanda the Health Care Professional: Good morning, Mr Blake. My name's Amanda. I've got a couple of questions here for you today to establish your eligibility for Employment Support Allowance. It won't take up much of your time. Could I just ask firstly, can you walk more than 50 metres unassisted by any other person?

    Daniel: Yes.

    Amanda the Health Care Professional: Okay... Can you raise either arm as if to put something in your top pocket?

    Daniel: I've filled this in already on your 52-page form.

    Amanda the Health Care Professional: Yeah, I can see that you have but, unfortunately, I couldn't make out what you had said there.

    Daniel: Yes.

    Amanda the Health Care Professional: Can you raise either arm to the top of your head as if you are putting on a hat?

    Daniel: I've telt you, there's nowt wrong with me arms and legs.

    Amanda the Health Care Professional: Could you just answer the question, please.

    Daniel: Well, you've got me medical records... Can we just talk about me heart?

    Amanda the Health Care Professional: D'you think you could just answer these questions?

    Daniel: Okay.

    Amanda the Health Care Professional: So was that a yes, that you can put a hat on your head?

    Daniel: Yes.

    Amanda the Health Care Professional: Okay, that's great... Can you press a button such as a telephone keypad?

    Daniel: There's nowt wrong with me fingers either... I mean, we're getting farther and farther away from me heart.

    Amanda the Health Care Professional: If we could just keep to these questions, thank you... Do you have any significant difficulty conveying a simple message to strangers?

    Daniel: Yes. Yes, it's me fucking heart. I'm trying to tell you but you'll not listen.

    Amanda the Health Care Professional: Mr Blake, if you continue to speak to us like that that's not gonna be very helpful for your assessment... If you could just answer the question, please.

    Daniel: Yes.

    Amanda the Health Care Professional: Okay... Do you ever experience any loss of control leading to extensive evacuation of the bowel?

    Daniel: No. But I cannot guarantee there won't be a first if we didn't get to the point.

    Amanda the Health Care Professional: Can you complete a simple task of setting an alarm clock?

    Daniel: Oh, Jesus. Yes... Can I ask you a question? Are you medically qualified?

    Amanda the Health Care Professional: I'm a health care professional appointed by the Department of Work and Pensions to carry out assessments for Employment and Support Allowance.

    Daniel: But there was a bloke out in the, er, in the waiting room, he says that you work for an American company.

    Amanda the Health Care Professional: Our company's been appointed by the Government.

    Daniel: Are you a nurse? Are you a doctor?

    Amanda the Health Care Professional: I'm a health care professional.

    Daniel: Listen, I've had a major heart attack. I nearly fell off the scaffolding. I wanna get back to work, too... Now, please, can we talk about me heart? Forget about me arse, that works a dream.