Cathy Come Home
Dir: Ken Loach
1966
*****

Cathy Come Home, Ken Loach's seventh made for British TV feature that appeared on prime-time in the mid 1960's caused quite a stir. Gritty social realism wasn't the norm in those days, although it featured on the BBC’s The Wednesday Play which dealt heavily with social issues, people hadn’t quite seen anything like this and many were shocked and disgusted at the very real living conditions certain people had to suffer. It's the type of social drama that TV was made for and what Loach has since become famous for. Its impact was so great that it was discussed in Parliament which helped lead to the formation of Crisis - Britain's leading homeless charity. It was a subject that was never really discussed, certainly never featured in the media and the impact sent shock-waves across the country. It has since been recognised as one of TV's most important programs and was voted second best TV program of all time (after Fawlty Towers). Ken Loach has since declared that he believed it had little practical effect in reducing homelessness after it was broadcast but the message was out there and people were aware. The fact that it was filmed as a fly on the wall documentary, or docudrama, gave it a very important resonance and it has been mentioned and used countlessly, in books and film made since that deal in social reform. Ken continues the good fight, showing establishments and injustice for what they are, this is where it all started. It's one of Britain's most important films, it never manipulates or uses emotional tricks, it simply shows us the very real truth that most people are only a couple of pay cheques away from homelessness and we need to help each other.