Ken Loach interview, Ireland 1992

Ken Loach talks about the challenges of getting his films made.

Ken Loach began making films in the 1960s and his work is renowned for tackling social issues. His 1990 film ‘Hidden Agenda’ deals with the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Ken Loach admits he had an attitude about Ireland before he made the film but adds,

You can’t be in England and not be innocent of what the British have been doing to the Irish for the last few hundred years.

Despite ‘Hidden Agenda’ winning the Special Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival, Ken Loach was heavily criticised by the British press for purportedly making a film favourable to the Irish Republican Army, even though he notes, the IRA did not feature in the film.

Described as a provocative filmmaker who does not chose the soft option he says,

I think some things need to be stirred up.

He disagrees that he is always looking for a fight but prefers to see himself as the person who takes on,

The lies that lie behind the news.

Ken Loach’s latest film ‘Riff-Raff’ has been a great success in Europe, winning the 1991 European Film Award best picture award. However great effort is required to make quintessentially British films as the market is dominated by Hollywood, with film-goers expecting to see American actors and hear American accents.

This episode of ‘Nighthawks’ was broadcast on 16 January 1992. The presenter is Shay Healy.

‘Nighthawks’ was a programme that was set in a bar cafe where the presenter Shay Healy was also the proprietor. The content was a mixture of comedy sketches, interviews, music performances and music videos.

‘Nighthawks’ was broadcast between 1988 and 1992 and went out three nights a week.