Kes (1969)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Ken Loach

Writers:

Barry Hines (book)
Barry Hines (adaptation) ...

Release Date:

19 June 1970 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

They beat him. They deprived him. They ridiculed him. They broke his heart. But they couldn't break his spirit.

Plot:

A young, English working-class boy spends his free time caring for and training his pet falcon.

Plot Keywords:

Boy | Falcon | Teacher | School | Public Humiliation

Awards:

Won 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

David Bradley	...	Billy
Freddie Fletcher	...	Jud
Lynne Perrie	...	Mrs. Casper
Colin Welland	...	Mr. Farthing
Brian Glover	...	Mr. Sugden
Bob Bowes	...	Mr. Gryce
Bernard Atha	...	Youth Employment Officer
Laurence Bould
Joey Kaye	...	Comedian at Pub
Ted Carroll
Robert Naylor	...	MacDowell
Agnes Drumgoon
George Speed	...	Billy's Friend
Desmond Guthrie
Zoe Sutherland	...	Librarian

Also Known As:

A Kestrel for a Knave (UK) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language, nudity and some teen smoking.

Runtime:

110 min | Netherlands:90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Australia:PG | Germany:12 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) | UK:U (original rating) | USA:GP | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Athersley South, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England, UK

Company:

Kestrel Films Ltd.

Trivia:

The child actors who were beaten (actually caned on the hand) by the character of the school headmaster were paid an additional 50 pence for their trouble, according to a BBC Radio 4 interview.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Mr Sugden is dancing down the pitch in the early part of the match, he shouts various instructions and admonitions to Speed. Speed was on Tibbutt's team and was his first choice.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

This is a classic.

If you are not from the north of England you may have difficulty with the dialogue in this film but dont let it put you off this is a masterpiece.The story of a teenage boy with no friends and no hope set in the mining heartland of yorkshire in the sixties is absolutely authentic. He finds salvation from the grim reality of his existence when he rears and trains a young kestrel, which is the only thing in his young life that has any meaning.David Bradley who plays Billy Casper in the leading role is superb.There are many scenes from the film that are absolute gems, but here are a few that warrant a special mention.Brian Glover playing the role of billys physical education teacher is out of this world, why he was never nominated as best supporting actor for an oscar i will never know.Colin Welland (later to become an oscar winner himself for screenplay of chariots of fire) was also brilliant as billys form teacher.The film reaches out to you on many levels. In me it stirred horror, anger, humour and tears.I am quite sure it will also do the same to anyone who views this timeless masterpiece.