The Spirit of '45

Ken Loach directs this documentary about the rise of the British Welfare State and the need to safeguard it from powerful political movements that favour privatisation. At the end of the Second World War, the British public welcomed in a Labour government which promised better state housing and a National Health Service for its citizens. Although these things have contributed to higher standards of living in Britain, a mixture of apathy and a focus on the individual in recent political movements has weakened the institutions. The film is Ken Loach's attempt to rally the public in support of the state rights people fought for so long to acquire.

Director: Ken Loach