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Kes

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Kes

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Summary

Social drama starring David Bradley. Billy Casper is a withdrawn boy who lives on a northern council estate with his mother and stepbrother. He shows little interest in his schoolwork, tries to avoid getting involved with local troublemakers, and is ambivalent about his future prospects. One day, however, his life gains a sense of purpose when he finds a kestrel's nest from which he takes a fledgeling to raise as a pet.

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Review

A star rating of 5 out of 5.

David Parkinson

Ken Loach seems to acquire a surer mastery of his art with each picture, yet this, one of his earliest features, is still one of his best. Adapted from Barry Hines's "grim up north" novel A Kestrel for a Knave, it has such a ring of authenticity that you can almost smell the chips. As ever, Loach coaxes remarkable performances from his cast, with Freddie Fletcher epitomising bullying big brotherhood and Brian Glover caricaturing every games teacher who never made it. Outstanding, however, is David Bradley as the teenager who finds solace in a baby kestrel from the pain of his dysfunctional family life and the torment of school.

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7.9/10

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Credits

Cast

rolenameBilly CasperDavid Bradley (3)Mr FarthingColin WellandMrs CasperLynne PerrieJudFreddie FletcherMr SugdenBrian GloverMr GryceBob BowesMr CrossleyTrevor HaskethFarmerEric BoldersonMathematics teacherGeoffrey BanksLibrarianZoe SunderlandMrs Casper's friendJoe MillerComedian at pubJoey Kaye

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Crew

rolenameDirectorKen Loach

Details

Theatrical distributor

Park Circus

Released on

2011-09-09

Languages

English

Available on

video, DVD and Blu-ray

Formats

Colour

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