Kes
1969 · Movie · PG-13 · 111 min · ★ 7.4 · 95% critics
A bullied schoolboy in Yorkshire struggles at home with indifference and abuse. Finding comfort in caring for a pet kestrel, he forms a bond that gives him a new sense of purpose and attention at school, helped by teachers and classmates.
Based on A Kestrel for a Knave
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Details
- Years
- 1969
- Release date
- 1970-04-03
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 111 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 95/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.4/10 (438 votes)
About
Choose this if you want a gritty coming-of-age story with tough school and home life plus a hopeful bond, but Not for you if you can’t handle bleak, painful realism like Threads or In My Skin.
Pros: gritty realism; affecting emotions; memorable teacher scenes | Cons: very painful moments; bleak tone; hard accents
Themes
- small town
- great britain
- northern england
- sibling relationship
- based on novel or book
- single parent
- england
- falcon
- dysfunctional family
- coming of age
- yorkshire
- sibling rivalry
- +14 more
Awards & recognition
- Crystal Globe · 1970
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
Cast & crew
David Bradley
as Billy
Freddie Fletcher
as Jud
Lynne Perrie
as Mrs. Casper
Colin Welland
as Mr. Farthing
Brian Glover
as Mr. Sugden
- BB
Bob Bowes
as Mr. Gryce
Bernard Atha
as Youth Employment Officer
- LB
Laurence Bould
- JK
Joey Kaye
as Pub Comic
- TC
Ted Carroll
Directed by Ken Loach