Documentary Review: ”The Bad Patriots” – Voices in the Wilderness and the Cost of Dissent

The Bad Patriots’, from British-Brazilian filmmaker Victor Fraga is an uncompromising examination of the ways in which one part of the media has portrayed two leading left figures in Britain.

The film focuses on these two film-maker Ken Loach and former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. These two through the film are given a rare opportunity to talk candidly about what it feels like to take on conservative interests determined not just by ideology but often sheer game-rigging numbers.

Victor Fraga’s film approaches Loach and Corbyn as voices in the wilderness, vilified for their commitment to challenging the capitalist establishment. Mainstream media for years had described them as anti-British, spineless, out-of-touch, terrorist-sympathisers, communists, and even a threat to national security. Through this film they get the opportunity to speak their side of the story and perhaps change the narrative. 

Ken Loach is a prolific filmmaker whose work has brought social issues to the big screen for decades. He recounts his challenges with media censorship particularly around some of his work that highlighted labor struggles. He also shares his views on the British government and its refusal to acknowledge workers as organisers of political power. It’s a fascinating glimpse into how even celebrated filmmakers can be marginalized when they step outside certain accepted boundaries.

Jeremy Corbyn also talks about his years of media vilification, detailing how he was even painted as a socialist spy and a terrorist based on flimsy evidence, like his meetings with diplomats. He talks about how the British press can shape public perception in profoundly damaging ways.

Victor Fraga’s stylistic choices are both a strength and a limitation of the documentary. He employs cinéma vérité techniques, capturing candid moments that seem to make this otherwise serious documentary film seem a bit fun and lighthearted. While this adds some authenticity, it sometimes distracts from the central narrative and its seriousness. There are also some clips from Loach’s film inserted in the documentary narrative. These clips in some ways add to the emotional tug that this film has on the viewer. But also importantly, they seem to remind viewers of Loach’s significant contribution to cinema and his alignment with the causes he believes in.

However, the documentary’s satirical narration, voiced by Adrian Bracken, is a mixed bag. While it mocks the baseless criticisms lobbed at Loach and Corbyn, it occasionally feels heavy-handed, lacking the nuance that might make the satire more effective.

Also, it feels like the film offers only a one-sided perspective of the subject matter, especially for viewers like myself who might not be family with these issues within the British political system.

‘The Bad Patriots‘ seems like a compelling documentary film that would resonate well with those familiar and sympathetic to Jeremy Corbyn and Ken Loach‘s causes. It also works as a good tribute to honouring their legacies while capturing an important chapter in the history of British politics. But for many of us we might not know, this film does a great deal to introduce us to them and their ideals, especially their commitment to challenging the status quo.

I will score this film 3 out 5 stars.