Kes DVD [1969]

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The film (and the book upon which it was based, by Barry Hines) were semi-autobiographical, Hines having been a teacher in the school in which it was set, and wishing to critique the education system of the time. His younger brother Richard had found a new life after his student experiences at the local secondary modern school by training the original bird "Kes", the inspiration for the movie. Richard assisted the movie production by acting as the handler for the birds in the film. Both brothers grew up in the area shown in the film, and their father was a worker in the local coal mine, though he was a kind man in contrast to the absentee father in the film. [4] Both the film and the book provide a portrait of life in the mining areas of Yorkshire of the time; reportedly, the miners in the area were then the lowest-paid workers in a developed country. [5] Shortly before the film's release, the Yorkshire coalfield where the film was set was brought to a standstill for two weeks by an unofficial strike. Garforth, Richard (18 October 2009). " Kes 40 years on". Archived from the original on 9 November 2009. Interview with David Bradley. Hines, Richard (2016). No Way But Gentlenesse: A Memoir of How Kes, My Kestrel, Changed My Life. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781408868034. British filmmaking showed much of its potential in this marvellous production chronicling the boyhood experiences of Billy, whose expectations lead no further than following his father into the pits when he reaches manhood.

Kes now? With Oscar winner, soap Where are the cast of Kes now? With Oscar winner, soap

Kent, Philip (2016). "Championing the underdog - Ken Loach before and after Kes". Essay included with the 2016 Blu-Ray release of Kes, Eureka Entertainment Ltd. (Masters of Cinema Series #151). News Where are the cast of Kes now? With Oscar winner, soap legends and 'Facelifts from Hell' dramaColin battled Alzheimer's disease for several years before passing away aged 81, in 2015. Read More Related Articles He became a soap star, joining Brookside to play Harry Cross for seven years from 1983-1990, and reprised the role in 1999. She appeared as a support act for the Beatles, and also shared the spotlight with Rod Stewart, the Rolling Stones and Shirley Bassey. a b Golding, Simon W. (2006). Life After Kes: The Making of the British Film Classic, the People, the Story and Its Legacy. Shropshire, UK: GET Publishing. ISBN 0-9548793-3-3. OCLC 962416178.

Kes DVD (DVD) | Used | 5050070009347 | Films at World of Books Kes DVD (DVD) | Used | 5050070009347 | Films at World of Books

Funny, sad, and bitingly authentic, Kes resonates with Loach's anger at the way so many kids grow up into narrow, option-free lives. ... But Loach's underdogs are never sad passive victims. There's a defiant spirit about Billy, and a fierce joy in the scenes where he trains his kestrel. Kes, as Loach has commented, sets up a contrast between "the bird that flies free and the boy who is trapped", but at the same time there's an unmistakable identification between them. ... The film's ending is desolate, but we sense Billy will survive. [17] Not the only Liverpudlian in the cast, Colin played Mr Farthing and for his role, earned himself a BAFTA.

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A harrowing coming of age story, the 1969 film followed the struggles of Billy, a South Yorkshire lad who escaped the pressures of his home life by training a fledgeling kestrel. Based on the novel A Kestrel for a Knave, author Barry Hines helped adapt it for the big screen. Freddie retired as an actor in 1996, after playing another 'Judd' - this time a pub landlord in the film When Saturday Comes - after being recommended for the role by the film's star, Sean Bean!

Kes DVD - Zavvi UK Kes DVD - Zavvi UK

Kes won David Bradley the most promising newcomer BAFTA, with Colin Welland winning best actor in a supporting role. British Films at Doc Films, 2011-2012". The Nicholson Center for British Studies. University of Chicago. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. So,the young boy needs someone to love,and because he cannot find one,he tames an hawk.This hawk epitomizes freedom,escape from this petty microcosm.In direct contrast to the gym teacher,appears the English teacher.He wants the young boy to give a presentation on his hawk.And,in front of a spellbound class,the dog has his day.Thanks to this clever man,the boy acquires self-confidence and maybe his studies will take a new turn.Much of the film's content has been discussed as a critique of the British education system of the time, known as the Tripartite System, which sorted children into different types of schools depending on their academic ability. The view of the creators is that such a system was harmful both to the children involved and to wider society. In his 2006 book, Life After Kes, Simon Golding commented that "Billy Casper, unlike the author [Golding], was a victim of the 11-plus, a government directive that turned out, for those who passed the exam, prospective white-collar workers, fresh from grammar schools, into jobs that were safe and well paid. The failures, housed in secondary modern schools, could only look forward to unskilled manual labour or the dangers of the coal face. Kes protests at this educational void that does not take into account individual skills, and suggests this is a consequence of capitalist society, which demands a steady supply of unskilled labour." [8] Golding also quoted director Ken Loach who stated that, "It [the film] should be dedicated to all the lads who had failed their 11-plus. There's a colossal waste of people and talent, often through schools where full potential is not brought out." [8] He later won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for 1981's Chariots of Fire and later wrote the screenplay for 1994's War of the Buttons. Reflecting on changes in the film's locale and setting in the intervening 40-odd years, Graham Fuller wrote in 2011: While his role in Kes was only the fish and chip shop man, Bill went on to perform in lots of soaps, dramas and even more films. What's your favourite Yorkshire film or drama? Let us know in the comments below. Read More Related Articles