Can the gig economy destroy a family from the inside out?

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In Ken Loach’s 2019 drama, a desperate father turns to self-employment to escape debt, only to find himself trapped in a cycle of exploitation. As his work pressures mount, the strain fractures his home life, forcing his wife and children to pay the ultimate price for his professional survival.

Set in Newcastle upon Tyne, the film follows Ricky Turner, a man struggling with financial instability following the 2008 economic crisis. With no formal training, he attempts to secure his family’s future by becoming a delivery driver. He operates as a self-employed franchisee under the supervision of a demanding manager named Maloney. To afford the necessary van, Ricky convinces his wife, Abby, a home care nurse, to sell the family car, a decision that severely compromises her ability to reach patients and manage her own heavy workload.

The narrative explores how the relentless demands of the gig economy bleed into the domestic sphere. Ricky faces constant stress, with fines levied for any delay or error, while his son, Seb, spirals into delinquency. The tension reaches a breaking point when Ricky is brutally assaulted during a delivery. While he is hospitalized, he learns he is liable for over £1,000 in fines because his barcode scanner was destroyed in the attack. The film concludes with a harrowing image of a broken man forced to return to the job that is dismantling his life.

Critics have lauded the film for its raw, unflinching look at modern labor. While some reviewers noted a didactic tone, many praised the performances, particularly newcomer Debbie Honeywood as Abby. The film, which competed for the top prize at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, is often compared to Loach’s earlier work, I, Daniel Blake. Critics suggest this project offers a more nuanced and provocative examination of the existential anguish felt by those caught in precarious employment, serving as a powerful moral critique of contemporary working conditions.

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