Ken Loach’s latest film, “The Angels’ Share,” begins with a pretty uproarious scene. Somewhere in Glasgow, Scotland, Albert (Gary Maitland) is drunk and, bottle in hand, getting drunker. He’s stumbling around a tube station, dangerously close to the edge of the tracks. We hear in voiceover the court proceedings. “This is an unusual case, my lord. The accused was at an unmanned station under the influence of a strong fortified wine.” “This is God calling,” an operator who sees him on surveillance says before telling him, with much profanity, to step away from the edge, as a train is about to barrel through in seconds.

Then come a couple more amusing accused criminals before the magistrate, Mo (Jasmine Riggins) and Rhino (William Ruane). The story of Robbie (Paul Brannigan) is not at all funny, though. Having grown up with both mother and father in and out of prison, Robbie’s followed in their footsteps, having done time for a violent assault. He’s been arrested for another one, but as it was provoked by the thugs he attacked — and because Robbie’s been straight for nearly a year and has a baby on the way with his girlfriend — the judge grants him mercy: community payback (known here as community service) instead of a sentence.