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THE WALK

By Michael JOBLING

Social issues - Completed 2023

It’s Wednesday and Amar makes his weekly 24-mile round trip to the job centre and back, on foot. This week
the walk is harder as he grapples with the guilt of not being able to attend his father’s funeral; this same time
next week.

- Year of production
- 2023
- Genres
- Social issues, Drama
- Countries
- UNITED KINGDOM
- Languages
- ENGLISH
- Duration
- 12 mn
- Director(s)
- Michael JOBLING
- Writer(s)
- Sophie ELLERBY
- Cast
- Adeel AKHTAR
- Producer(s)
- Anna GRIFFIN (Griffin Pictures)
- Synopsis
- Tomorrow is Wednesday, an important day in Amar’s week. After losing his job, Amar depends on the lifeline of Government benefits to keep him going. Essentially marooned since the local bus route was cut, his only option is to walk 24 miles to and from his nearest Job Centre every single week. But this week he’s hoping he can have a conversation with his Work Coach. Next week is his father’s funeral; he has to be there.
  Amar arrives with minutes to spare and has a quick wet-wipe wash behind the building before announcing his arrival to his work coach. He tries to discuss his predicament...
  
  But rules are rules and if he doesn’t attend next week’s appointment, he’ll be sanctioned and will miss his next
  payment.
  
  During the walk home, Amar must tell his younger brother, Tanvir, that as head of the family, he cannot attend his father’s funeral. It’s a gut wrenching, crushing conversation, one that Amar can barely keep himself composed for. His phone runs out of battery before he can fully explain. As the sun sets, he trudges silently through picturesque villages and passed out-of-service bus stops, through fields and winding roads until he comes to a lake. Distraught, or disorientated maybe, he walks to the water and submerges himself. Cleansing, or rebirth...
  
  After the sun has fully set, he’s finally home. Weak, heartbroken. He plugs his phone in. Seconds later, it rings. It’s Tanvir. Amar looks up, hopeful...