Sorry, this movie sucks

Awesome Movie

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Having never read the book that this film is adapted from, I had little idea what 'Kes' was even about, let alone the reputation it has as a British classic. After viewing I can safely say that 'Kes' is a film that I won't forget any time soon. This film takes you through every emotion imaginable. It's funny yet sad, depressing yet uplifting, and it's thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. The broad Yorkshire accent takes some getting used to, even as a Northerner myself I struggled to understand some of what was being said, but that only adds to the genuine, raw feeling to the film.'Kes' is an excellent British film, one that I would recommend for those who enjoy realistic and raw pictures with meaning. This is a film that I will remember and certainly revisit some time in the future.

I remember when we first got a video in the early 80s and we'd only just worked out how to use it. One night Kes came on the telly and me and my brother taped it. We were about 9 and 11 years old. We watched that tape for years over and over again. We knew the whole film word for word from start to finish. My mum and dad are both from Barnsley, My dad went to school with Barry Hines. Eventually that tape either got lost or broken. Years later when I was grown up, Kes came on the telly one night so I sat down to watch it. I couldn't believe it when it came on, it had been dubbed over, the voices were different and the accents were nothing like as strong as the original. In the end I had to turn it off. I was gutted. Since then I have borrowed it on Video and then bought it on DVD and both times on the video and the DVD it is the dubbed version. You can not get the original anywhere anymore but nobody ever mentions this and I really don't understand it because it spoils the whole film. Surely there is somebody out there what remembers the original and realises that the DVD version has different voices put on. In some places it is the same but in most places it has been dubbed and it sounds awful. I just wish I could find the original version somewhere. I know that most people reading this will think that their DVD is the original version and wont have a clue what I am talking about because for some reason nobody apart from me and my brother seem to have noticed which I find hard to believe. If you own the film on DVD then I assure you it is NOT the original voices.

It's an apparently hopeless life for grimy teenager David Bradley (as Billy Casper), growing up in a Yorkshire, England coal-mining town. He is bullied at home by older half-brother Freddie Fletcher (as Jud), and at school by coach Brian Glover (as Sugden). Both teachers and schoolmates have little use for young Mr. Bradley; and, he is inadvertently neglected by mother Lynne Perrie.On a lonely walk, Bradley admires some hawks, and develops an admiration for the free-flying bird. He reads up on the falcon, in a stolen library book, and robs a young kestrel from its nest. Bradley trains the bird, which he names "Kes". His pet falcon gives Bradley purpose. Now, English teacher Colin Welland (as Farthing) admires the boy. At last, Bradley, who wants to escape his expected future as a working-class coal miner, has hope. Still, there are those who would break his spirit… This film has been celebrated as an accurate depiction of British working class, but it's much more universal. "A Kestrel for a Knave" writer Barry Hines' downtrodden youth is anywhere and everywhere. With a wonderful story, and photography by Chris Menges, "Kes" is director Ken Loach's masterpiece; it will show you how some poets are born. And, Bradley's characterization is unforgettable. Listen... you can still hear him calling, "C'mon, Kes!" ********** Kes (3/27/70) Ken Loach ~ David Bradley, Freddie Fletcher, Brian Glover, Colin Welland

This film is from the book "Kes - A Kestrel for A Knave" by Barry Hines.Do you remember any of the books you had to read at school as "compulsory reading"? To me this film should be compulsory viewing for all English schoolkids. This is how it was. I love the football scenes. As you may know Brian Glover was a professional wrestler, but his portrayal of the gym teacher is stunning. My gym teacher was Bev Risman, who was fullback/goalkicker for Leeds RLFC, and they could have taken Glover's role from him..Although a dark, grim film, this brings back many childhood memories for me.. including being caned for smoking.. a Players No. 6 I had stolen from my dad..They just don't make films like this anymore.. Billy Elliot and Brassed Off get close.. but Kes is my favourite film of all time..Stewart (The Yorkshireman, and proud of it) Shepherd