Kes

Based on Barry Hines' novel A Kestrel For A Knave, this was the film that marked Loach's big-screen debut in 1969. Building upon his reputation for grittily realistic TV plays, Loach tells a story of 15-year-old Barnsley (northern England) schoolboy Billy Casper who escapes from the hardships of his life by catching and training a baby kestrel.

Billy Casper (played by David Bradley) comes from a poor, fatherless family who live in Barnsley (northern England). He can't concentrate at school and does very badly. He is beaten up regularly by his elder brother and disregarded by everyone. Billy steals, daydreams and is useless in class. When he begins to train a wild Kestrel, a whole new side of his character is discovered.

The film is never sentimentalised, but instead manages to be angry as well as touching and funny. There are some excellent performances, mostly from non-professionals. Worth noting for comedy value is the scene featuring Brian Glover, as the sports teacher, who takes his boys out on to the field and acts out a football fantasy that has him behaving more like a child than his charges.

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