Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Kes (1969)

Director: Kenneth Loach

Time Out rating

Average user rating

7 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

It’s more than 40 years since Ken Loach shot ‘Kes’ in South Yorkshire, taking in school and home life in an area where nature meets the mining industry on the skyline – and now the BFI is giving his most enduring film an extended run as part of a two-month season of his work.

After making television films and ‘Poor Cow’ (1967), Loach made ‘Kes’ (1969), the story of Billy Casper (David Bradley), a smart but wayward schoolboy who lives near Barnsley with his mother and older brother and who, despite a quick mind and tongue, has a reputation as a rogue. ‘Kes’ marked a new maturity and stillness in Loach’s work, which doesn’t mean it’s without energy or humour – it has both in spades.

Loach found fitting partners in cinematographer Chris Menges – who translated Loach’s eye and ear for documentary-style realism into a quiet form of observation, using natural light – and writer Barry Hines, whose novel ‘A Kestrel for Knave’ the script was adapted from and whose compassion and knack for everyday dialogue runs through the film.

The ideas in ‘Kes’ on the role of both teachers and parents emerge naturally and gently from vital, believable portrayals. It’s a bird, of course, that gives the film its name and the scenes with Billy and his falcon are undoubtedly special and tender. But in the end, ‘Kes’ is one of the most astute, engaged films about education and what it takes for kids to be excited about learning or passionate about anything, really, whether in the classroom or roaming the fields with a feathered friend.

Author: Dave Calhoun

Time Out London Issue 2142: 8 - 14 Sept, 2011

Email Tweet Share

User reviews of this film

rick said...

Posted on Jan 22 2012 00:03 The sound is really bad and compounded by the strong northern accents. I tried hard to give this film time but the basic idea ie a boy's fondness for a kestrel seems too disjointed and littered with less engaging lifestyle issues which isn't really what I rented the film to see, so ultimately I was really disappointed and would NOT recommended it.

Report as inappropriate
Steve said...

Posted on Oct 08 2011 17:54 Amazing movie. Loved it for years. Let my 4 year old watch it for the first time last week. Think it's gonna have to grow on him tho.

Report as inappropriate
Y Brawd said...

Posted on Sep 03 2011 03:13 Oh the delicious irony. And that homework bewailing kiddies is what Colin Welland, the film's progressive English teacher, would call "a fact".

Report as inappropriate
melanie said...

Posted on Jan 22 2011 22:56 what phillip said .. cant believe i have to write an essay on this..

Report as inappropriate
IzzyC said...

Posted on Oct 16 2009 21:49 At all levels... an amazing film! (Forty years ago? and doesn't feel a day old).

Report as inappropriate
Chaipup said...

Posted on Jun 05 2009 19:30 Phillip Donald: For somebody who can't even write a coherent sentence I'm sure nobody will take your review as anything but childish. This film should be a national treasure. Ken Loach uses real people as the main characters in this film. This is where the film gets its true authenticity.

Report as inappropriate
Phillip Donald said...

Posted on Jan 22 2009 19:30 The uneventful film was a complete waste of my life all the actors have drastic speaking problems, and this is homework even flippin worse

Report as inappropriate