The Navigators (2001)

100% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
77% of users liked it
(874 ratings)

Acclaimed filmmaker Ken Loach follows up on his 2000 opus Bread and Roses about a Los Angeles janitors' strike with this drama about the privatization of British Rail. Set in South Yorkshire, the film opens with familiar British Rail sign being replaced with a shiny new one reading "East Midland… More Acclaimed filmmaker Ken Loach follows up on his 2000 opus Bread and Roses about a Los Angeles janitors' strike with this drama about the privatization of British Rail. Set in South Yorkshire, the film opens with familiar British Rail sign being replaced with a shiny new one reading "East Midland Infrastructure." For a group of men working at a local train station, this subtle change ends up meaning that their lives have irrevocably changed. When they learn the grim details of this privatization, their chummy sense of community begins to splinter and fall apart. Under the new regime, the customer comes first. While on paper this sounds great, in reality this new arrangement is implemented haphazardly, resulting in bitter fighting and political backstabbing. Some from the old group take the company's severance package while others soldier on. This film was screened in the 2001 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Ken Loach
Written By: Rob Dawber
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 21, 2003 Limited
On DVD: Dec 2, 2003
Studio: First Look Pictures

Critic Reviews

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Loach's characters speak in a sometimes difficult Yorkie accent, but they tell a story anyone can understand.
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
Loach has a way of capturing the offhand, unspectacular way people live, with social comedy but minus any sociology.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
This is a worthwhile motion picture whose central topic will resonate with many who see it.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Though not one of Loach's strongest films, his heart is in the rightplace, and his foray into the privatization of the British Railway System and its devstating effects on its workers is still a worthy cause to champion and a worthy film to see.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Essential Loach viewing for those who still believe in the cause.
Maria Garcia, Film Journal International
Simply the final word on the evils of private industry.
Jon Popick, Planet Sick-Boy
If The Full Monty had been a drama, and didn't have the peeling or happy ending, it would probably have looked something like this.
Susan Green, Boxoffice Magazine
While a bit less fulfilling than Riff Raff or Raining Stones, the latest chapter in the impressive Loach lexicon still packs a punch.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
As comedy and drama, the film is full on, if not full monty... Wonderful performances keep us involved and engaged.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"The Navigators" takes place in 1995 when British Rail is bring privatized, the effects of which are being felt at all levels. Workers for the renamed East Midlands Infrastructure(later renamed Gilchrist Engineering) no longer have the lifetime job… More
[font=Century Gothic]"The Navigators" takes place in 1995 when British Rail is bring privatized, the effects of which are being felt at all levels. Workers for the renamed East Midlands Infrastructure(later renamed Gilchrist Engineering) no longer have the lifetime job security and benefits they once had, and a good number are taking the redundancy offer while the going is good. Meanwhile, for the ones who are staying, there is barely enough work to go around.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Directed by Ken Loach, "The Navigators" provides an excellent case study as to why certain government operations should never be privatized and run for a profit.(Do not even think of doing this with Amtrak.) Overall, it is a disaster for everybody all around.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]The movie is political without being shrill. It captures the feeling of being underemployed perfectly. The film ends strongly enough to have an impact but we never get to know any of the characters well.[/font]
Henrik S

Appropiate portrayal of a british railworker's teams downfall which ultimately alienates their morals as well. A grim and very realistic view on contemporary British working class. Only watch this, if you are interested in sociological topics.