Kes
1969
Rebellious Billy Casper (David Bradley) finds that training a kestrel takes his mind off his troubled home life and the bullies at school. Set in the Northern English town of Barnsley, the film is a gritty slice of working-class life in the �60s. Based on the Barry Hines novel A KESTREL FOR A KNAVE, KES was brought to .. Read more
| Starring | Colin Welland, David Bradley, Brian Glover |
|---|---|
| Director | Ken Loach |
| Genres | Drama |
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Kes
Rebellious Billy Casper (David Bradley) finds that training a kestrel takes his mind off his troubled home life and the bullies at school. Set in the Northern English town of Barnsley, the film is a gritty slice of working-class life in the �60s. Based on the Barry Hines novel A KESTREL FOR A KNAVE, KES was brought to the big screen by Palm d�Or-winning director Ken Loach, who is best known for his early kitchen sink dramas. Fittingly, Brian Glover--who plays a games teacher--was born in Barnsley, bringing a touch of authenticity to proceedings. Upon its release, KES attracted criticism from wildlife conservationists who saw it as encouraging youngsters to take falcons from the wild with the intention of taming them, despite the film�s underlying message of respecting the birds.
| Starring | Colin Welland, David Bradley, Brian Glover |
|---|---|
| Director | Ken Loach |
| Studio | MGM ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 46 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | English |
| Dubbed | German |
| Hearing-impaired | English, German |
| Subtitles | Turkish |
| Released | DVD: 20 Jan 2003 Production year: 1969 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (2)
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Ken Loach seems to acquire a surer mastery of his art with each picture, yet this, one of his earliest features, is still one of his best. Adapted from Barry Hines's “grim up North” novel, it has such a ring of authenticity that you can almost smell the chips. As ever, Loach coaxes remarkable performances, with Freddie Fletcher epitomising bullying big brotherhood and Brian Glover caricaturing every games teacher who never made it. Outstanding, however, is David Bradley as the teenager who finds solace in a baby kestrel from the pain of his dysfunctional family life and the torment of school.
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Barry Hines' novel, about a young schoolboy in Barnsley who attempts to escape the tedium and meaninglessness of his... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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42 out of 44 people found this review helpful
COULDN'T BE ANY WORSE!!!
This movie was absolute rubbish. Nothing happens apart from him training a kestrel, which doesn't really grip the audience. Extremely dull, do not do anything with this movie, don't rent, buy or even watch it.
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Most recent members' review
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14 out of 14 people found this review helpful
um
i was expecting an utter classic. i knew it would be slow, grey and 'naturalistic' in the ken loach sense - i loved 'the wind that shakes the barley' - but it was just too slow, grey and naturalistic. and it has dated badly. there are very funny bits (megalomaniac PE teacher) but i dunno, the whole thing just reminded me of a holey, brown sock that has been discarded for nearly forty years.
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News and features
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Loach honoured by film critics
- 30 Dec 2004
Veteran film-maker Ken Loach has been honoured for his outstanding contribution to cinema by the London Film Critics' Circle. The director's 40-year career took off with the hard-hitting 1966 television drama Cathy Come Home, followed up with the award-winning Kes and My Name Is Joe. The London Film Critics' Circle awards will take place on February 9th and Mike Leigh's abortion drama Vera Drake is currently leading the pack with seven nominations, including best British film and best actress... Read more
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