STAR RATINGS EXPLAINED

Classic

Excellent

Good

Fair

Tragic

FILM DETAILS

Certificate PG

Cast David Bradley Freddie Fletcher Brian Glover Colin Welland.

Directors Ken Loach.

Screenwriters Barry Hines Ken Loach Tony Garnett.

Running Time 110 minutes

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Kes (PG)

Plot
15-year-old Barnsley schoolboy Billy Casper (Bradley) finds release from the struggles of under-achieving school days and a poor, fatherless family, by catching and training a baby kestrel.

Review
Based on Barry Hines' novel A Kestrel For A Knave, this was the film that marked Ken Loach's big-screen debut in 1969. Building upon his reputation for grittily realistic TV plays, Loach pushed kitchen sink drama one stage further into quasi-documentary.

Having no experience, Bradley can't help but be natural, winning viewers' hearts from the first scene when bullying big brother Jud (Fletcher) makes him late for his paper round by nicking his bike. Billy steals, daydreams and is useless in class, but remains one of the screen's most loveable rogues - even before the beautiful scenes of him with his kestrel on the moor. Perfectly pitching the screenplay's sensitively woven story and natural ear for dialogue - the film's original US distributor thought Polish more discernible - Loach's low-key take is just the right side of sentimental.

The film is peppered with astonishing debuts from mostly non-professionals. Best of all is ex-wrestler Glover as the vaguely sadistic sports master, who almost steals the film during the farcical football match. Look out, too, for Lynne Perrie (who went on to infamy as Ivy Tilsley in Coronation Street) as Billy's brassy mum.

Verdict
Unforgettable when it first appeared 30 years ago, Kes remains something of a landmark. It's not a radically improved print but the simple beauty of the film shines through.


Reviewer: Neil Jeffries

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Average user rating for Kes

Kes

The best and most heart-felt film ever made! A classic. ... Read More

Pipkin3 About me

14:59, 29 March 2010 | Report This Post

Terrific, a wonderful film which captures a tough period of britain ... Read More

willchadwick About me

02:00, 01 September 2009 | Report This Post

eh??

I can't understand how a film with such a bleak undertone running all the way through it is said to be the essance of a classic movie. depressing movies can be great movies, but they achieve this with subtle uplifting tones aswell. kes on the other hand was a film about nothing. exluding of course, to remind us that the mining times were bleak, very bleak. Kes is not a film for people looking for entertainment, but just for those who wish to be depessed. kes holds no watching value, what so ever... Read More

therockincheeseman About me

17:41, 10 June 2009 | Report This Post