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Kes
Ken Loach's 1969 drama Kes , considered one of the finest examples of British social realism, tells the story of Billy, a working class boy who finds escape and meaning when he takes a fledgling kestrel from its nest.
David Forrest's study of the film examines the genesis of the original novel, Barry Hines' A Kestrel for a Knave (1968), the eventual collaboration that brought it to the screen, and the film's funding and production processes. He provides an in depth analysis of key scenes and draws on archival sources to shed new light on the film's most celebrated moments.
He goes on to consider the film's lasting legacy, having influenced films like Ratcatcher (1999) and This is England (2006), both in terms of its contribution to film history and as a document of political and cultural value. He makes a case for the film's renewed relevance in our present era of systemic economic (and regional) inequality, alienated labour, increasingly narrow educational systems, toxic masculinity, and ecological crisis. Kes endures, he argues, because it points towards the possibility for emancipation and fulfilment through a more responsive and nurturing approach to education, a more delicate and symbiotic relationship with landscape and the non-human, and an emotional articulacy and sensitivity shorn of the rigid expectations of gender.
David Forrest's study of the film examines the genesis of the original novel, Barry Hines' A Kestrel for a Knave (1968), the eventual collaboration that brought it to the screen, and the film's funding and production processes. He provides an in depth analysis of key scenes and draws on archival sources to shed new light on the film's most celebrated moments.
He goes on to consider the film's lasting legacy, having influenced films like Ratcatcher (1999) and This is England (2006), both in terms of its contribution to film history and as a document of political and cultural value. He makes a case for the film's renewed relevance in our present era of systemic economic (and regional) inequality, alienated labour, increasingly narrow educational systems, toxic masculinity, and ecological crisis. Kes endures, he argues, because it points towards the possibility for emancipation and fulfilment through a more responsive and nurturing approach to education, a more delicate and symbiotic relationship with landscape and the non-human, and an emotional articulacy and sensitivity shorn of the rigid expectations of gender.
- GenresFilm
112 pages, Paperback
Published May 2, 2024
About the author
David Forrest
74 books1 followerDavid Forrest is a pen-name used by English novelists Robert Forrest-Webb and David Eliades to write four books, And to My Nephew Albert I Leave the Island What I Won off Fatty Hagan in a Poker Game (1969), The Great Dinosaur Robbery (1970), After Me, the Deluge (1972), and The Undertaker's Dozen (1974).
These books featured tight plotlines and riotous humor, touching at the same time some serious topics: The Great Dinosaur Robbery and Nephew deal with the Cold War, After Me, the Deluge with religion.
- from Wikipedia
These books featured tight plotlines and riotous humor, touching at the same time some serious topics: The Great Dinosaur Robbery and Nephew deal with the Cold War, After Me, the Deluge with religion.
- from Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 11, 2025
An academic review/ analysis of one of the greatest British working class portrayals. The book is written by a professor and if you want to compare it to the film, it more or less does the opposite of the film, ie it does everything possible to alienate it's reader by using language and structure to put off the common man.
What is right is it's overwhelming praise for the film, so why is the film so great? Well if you want to know what 90% of schools were like from 1965-85, it's exactly here. That odd blend between industrial and rural life in mining villages is also captured. Machismo, intolerance and drudgery all noted with humour and tears.
Superb.
Perhaps an academic analysis of Gregory's Girl is now needed too.
What is right is it's overwhelming praise for the film, so why is the film so great? Well if you want to know what 90% of schools were like from 1965-85, it's exactly here. That odd blend between industrial and rural life in mining villages is also captured. Machismo, intolerance and drudgery all noted with humour and tears.
Superb.
Perhaps an academic analysis of Gregory's Girl is now needed too.
Displaying 1 of 1 review