Kes

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Robert P @Superbad Sep 30, 2026 Kes is a *5* star movie (Plus a Criterion Movie) See more Frans B @FransB Jul 15, 2026 Stark, striking, gritty and brutally honest. Beautifully written and directed. Great cinematography lends to the appropriate ambiance. David Bradley absolutely incredible in character. One of the most striking coming of age movies ever. Children especially is very resilient and enduring, and it shows up so well in this movie. Even in atrocious and ghastly circumstances, us humans are able to flourish. There is beauty in this harsh world, you just have to open your eyes, perhaps even you alone will see it, and that is just fine. Falconry is very close to my heart and this fascinate beyond words. Life lessons to be found in abundance here. Not at all lighthearted and trivial, very serious and captivating story. Precious and captivating See more Jim N @RT88410809 Feb 17, 2026 An accurate and gritty depiction of what life was like in the 1960s in northern England, where the culture was steeped in its own semantics and sociolect. The story follows Caspar, gruff working-class boy of no means, as his raggedy life is redeemed - fleetingly at least - by the discover of a bird's nest. The "kes" of the title denotes a kestrel (the novel was called "A Kestrel for a Knave"), the wind-hover, the smallest of falcons. The film, aiming for naturalism, barely employs any real actors to portray the characters, and is arguably one of the greatest British films ever made. Jim Newcombe See more Patrick C @RT84374237 Feb 5, 2026 I first saw 'Kes' back in 1983 when I was a year or so younger than Billy Casper is in the film. It touched me deeply, and 43 years on it still does. Such bleak poetry in Billy's finding a sense of escape from his impoverished surroundings and uneasy home life through his relationship with his kestrel. His school life is dismal, veering between boredom, visits to the headmaster for a caning and frozen ineptitude on the football pitch - the latter overseen by Brian Glover's self-important oaf of a teacher. Hope is manifested in the form of Colin Welland's kindly encouragement, but it is extinguished in the film's tragic denouement. Just a wonderful achievement. See more Bom W @Perseverant Jan 1, 2026 Depressing and stressful from beginning to end. If you were hoping for a feel-good coming-of-age story about a young falconer who rises above his circumstances, look elsewhere. Rather, if you enjoy witnessing a boy being subjected to almost unrelenting physical and emotional abuse by a loose and uncaring mother, hateful brother, callous school children, and overbearing adults, then this is the film for you. Don't expect levity or joyful moments, but do expect to have your eyes assaulted by the butts and scrotums of little boys. Almost without exception, every character in this film is a despicable. As you watch, any glimmer of joy you might hope for is snatched away. Maybe it holds a special place in the hearts of those who grew up in similar circumstances, but I suspect all but sadists will find themselves wishing they could rescue the boy from his miserable circumstances. The predominant feeling at its conclusion was relief that the onslaught of misery had reached its end... See more Simon T @MovieTart Apr 12, 2025 What a wonderful film Kes still is. Has Ken Loach ever bettered it? Barry Hines' simple story of a Barnsley boy - isolated, bullied by his thuggish older brother, destined for the local mine, but finding solace in discovering and training a kestrel - is genuine poetry. Dai Bradley is sublime as Billy, and Loach has recruited an excellent ensemble in support. Chris Menges' photography and John Cameron's music are also superb. See more Read all reviews

Kes

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