Cathy Come Home

Carol White - Cathy
Ray Brooks - Reg Ward
Winifred Dennis - Mrs. Ward
Wally Patch - Grandad

Having directed several early episodes of Z Cars, Ken Loach found his calling with a string of controversial contributions to the BBC's pioneering drama programme, The Wednesday Play. Set in a grim London during the mid-1960s, Loach's keeps a discreet docu-dramatic distance. He creates a palpable sense of injustice as he chronicles Ray Brooks' and Carol White's struggle to prise their kids away from social services.

Scripted by Jeremy Sandford and first screened in 1966, this Prix Italia winner reveals the indelible influence of Free Cinema on a style that has changed little over the years - but, then again, neither has the Britain that Loach depicts.