Interview: British screenwriter Laverty tells story of social injustice in 'I, Daniel Blake' at Cannes

Paul Laverty, the British screenwriter presenting the movie "I, Daniel Blake" at the ongoing 69th Cannes Film Festival said his film was about the story of a man who had worked all his life and yet found himself in desperate need of financial help.

"He crosses paths with a young woman called Katie who, for financial reasons, moved out of London like 50,000 other families. Their paths cross and we tell a very intimate little story about their lives," Laverty told Xinhua in an exclusive interview here.

The film is a moving portrayal of two people who overcome difficulties, but always trying to help each other even with the small resources they have at their disposal.

The inspiration of the film, Laverty said, came from what he referred to as a very vindictive campaign against people on welfare in Britain that paints them as liars, "bloodsuckers", or foreigners living off the backs of hard-working families in Britain.

He said most people believe that 30 percent of those receiving benefits are doing so under false welfare claims. But the real figure is closer to 0.7 percent, he said.

"This is a massive distortion," the screenwriter stressed.

"Why are the most vulnerable people in our society so victimized by this vicious action? Then there were the welfare cuts after the austerity program which affected disabled people six times more than the rest of the population and lots of vulnerable people were committing suicide," he continued.

In preparation for the film, Laverty spent a lot of time going to "food banks" where people in need can get free food. There he talked to a lot of people who often have to choose between food or a warm place to sleep.

"It is remarkable to think that in the UK there are people going hungry," he said.

Asked if he thought there was hope in this difficult situation, Laverty said: "Yes, there is, and Saint Augustin said: 'Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are."

Speaking of the impact the economic crisis has had on vulnerable people, the British screenwriter found it interesting that "people who caused the crisis are not paying the price of it."

"The crisis was caused by greed, paradise banks and a concentration of wealth and I think that we have to make that transparent," Laverty said, adding that his film touched on this point.

Laverty chose to work yet again with director Ken Loach who directed Sweet Sixteen in 2002 and The Wind That Shakes The Barley in 2006 which won Laverty Best Screenplay and a Palme d'Or.

"Making a film is a collaboration and if you do it with bright and intelligent people it is a great pleasure," Laverty said, referring to his collaboration with Loach.

"He is very human, curious and generous, then he is also a very tough intellectual partner, because he addresses very hard topics," Loach said. Endit