Directed by:
Ken LoachCinematography:
Chris MengesComposer:
John CameronCast:
David Bradley, Laurence Bould, Agnes Drumgoon, Frank Norton, Martin Harley, Leslie Stringer, Brian Glover, Colin Welland, Lynne Perrie, Freddie Fletcher (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
In this 1969 Ken Loach film, a 15-year-old named Billy Casper (David Bradley) suffers abuse both at home and at school in Yorkshire, England. At his home in the working-class section of Barnsley, Billy's brother beats him and his family neglects him. At school, most of his teachers ridicule and reject him, especially sadistic Mr. Sugden (Brian Glover). Like other downtrodden children in an outmoded social system favoring the ruling class, Billy appears headed for a menial job with no future. Consequently, he has no motivation and nothing to look forward to, until the day he finds a kestrel -- a European falcon with the ability to hover against strong wind. The bird, a fledgling, is akin to the boy, who must withstand winds of his own. It is not surprising, therefore, that Billy finds meaning in befriending and caring for the baby kestrel. He raises, nurtures, and trains the falcon, whom he calls 'Kes.' Its development gives him hope that he too will one day develop, that he too will gain the skills to fly against the wind. Upon the urging of a sympathetic teacher, Mr. Farthing Colin Welland, Billy even summons the courage to take the falcon to school to educate his unfriendly classmates about falconry. Will Billy eventually rise above the repression and privation of his home life and social life? The answers to these questions appear to lie in the fate of the falcon. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (1)
Growing up in this environment and in this educational system, it simply fucks a person up. When I see similar movies, I always think about how lucky I was to have parents who gave me love and took care of me. The main character has this, but in a very twisted form. And then he has a tragic fate, which you can only imagine how it will turn out. Harsh, unfortunately, only because people behave like assholes.
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