Freeview (UK) film of the day : tuesday 25th of June

The Spirit Of '45 (2013 98min.) [Film4 9.00pm &+1]
Freeview premiere

Documentary from director Ken Loach. Following the Second World War, Labour Prime Minister Clement Attlee implemented a process of social reform in Britain that led to the creation of large amounts of council housing and the National Health Service. But what began in a wave of optimism and public spirit changed immeasurably in the intervening years.

Despite clearly having it's heart firmly in the right place Ken Loach's documentary suffers badly from a lack of context and narrative.
This means that it ends up being more of an oral history of the Labour Party between 1945-51 rather than the documentary about the causes and effects of the social and political changes that were brought about at this time - there's also very little examination of what happened afterwards.

The recollections, insights and thoughts of the interviewees are all fascinating but the lack of an overall story gives the film an unfinished feeling.

Certainly interesting but also something of a missed opportunity.