Even if Thatcher did not seem to understand the importance of cinema in British society, she certainly inspired a new breed of film directors - Ken Loach, Stephen Frears, Peter Greenaway, Neil Jordan and Mike Leigh created some of their best work in the eighties. Looking back now, it could be argued that the Thatcher period was the golden age of British film.

Ken Loach provides us with a timely reminder of a period in history when the needs and hopes of the British working class were the guiding light of government policy, resulting in the radical transformation of society and an economic recovery the like of which is desperately needed today.

It may come across as a little idealistic, but The Spirit of '45 shows that, with determination, empathy and generosity, something positive can be created out of the rubble.

Stamp's path through life could have been very different. For an East End lad growing up in post-war London, acting was not on the cards. "I left the East End quite early in terms of other kids my age. My mother made a terrible fuss, but my dad didn't mind at all. But if I was going to try acting, I couldn't have done it had I stayed at home."

The Angels’ Share is the latest film to hit the big screen from director Ken Loach. Loach has teamed up with screenwriter Paul Laverty, Roger Al...

Mild mannered and entirely unassuming, Ken Loach brings to mind one of the kindly, more elderly teachers that one inevitably comes across at school. ...