The word "legend" gets thrown around a lot, but it's a mantle that filmmaker Ken Loach fully deserves. We're not going to recap the many accomplishments and honors his lengthy career has seen so far, but in the last few years his energy and curiousity have shown no signs of abating. His work has ranged from early 20th century drama ("The Wind That Shakes The Barley"), footballer dramedy ("Looking For Eric") and post-Iraq War meditations ("Route Irish") and for his next effort, we'll see another change of focus.
Loach geared up lensing on "The Angels' Share" last spring, and all signs point to a return to Cannes for the filmmaker with a summer release overseas looming his film. A handful of returning players come to play with the director again including John Henshaw ("Looking for Eric"), William Ruane ("The Wind That Shakes the Barley"), Gary Maitland ("Sweet Sixteen") and Roger Allam with newcomers Paul Brannigan, Siobhan Reilly and Jasmin Riggins also starring. Described as a bittersweet comedy from Loach, Paul Laverty ("Looking for Eric," "The Wind That Shakes the Barley") penned the screenplay about a new father who has narrowly escaped a prison sentence who concocts a plan to carve out a new future that involves a whiskey distillery, with the help of fellow community service workers.
We'll likely get a better look at footage and more later in the spring, but until now these stills from production company Why Not offer a satisfying first look. A few more images below.