Kes is a social drama film produced in1969 .It is directed by Ken Loach and produced by Tony Garntee. The film is based on the 1968 novel for a Knave
.
The director of Kes is one of the most famous British directors who is known
as a social realist. Ken Loach is renowned for his reverent picturing of
everyday life. He started working as a trainee television director in 1963
for BBC in 1961. In 1969 Loach produced” Kes” which was a critical and
commercial success for him.
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about ken Loach biography
Kes was produced in the sixties, the era where the social problem film was largely over. It is offer a picture of working-class life by telling a story of a 15-year-old boy with pale, pinched face called Billy Casper from Barnsley. He suffers neglect and abuse at home and school. He suffer from the brutality of his old brother at home ,besides ridicule and reject at school and prospect of working in the coal mine. Consequently ’ he hated school, felt isolated, and behaved badly. He had no motivation and wondered what the purpose of his life with nothing to do. One day his curiosity led him to stole a book from a library about raptors .He had read it eagerly before he found a kestrel and hooked up with it and called it “Kes”. By raising, nurturing, and training "Kes", Billy found a sense of personal achievement that led him to discovered his ability to communicate and give him hope and meaning of his life.
Kes is a drama that Loach developed its naturalistic style. Many
elements make the film as a real world. For instance, Boys
speaking in working-class accents, and sometimes muttering that you hardly
understand what they were saying without subtitle besides the used of
natural light and the Non-professional actors such as David
Bradley, who plays Billy Casper, alongside professional actors ,all make things
naturalistic
References and to read more reviews about Kes
:
http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2011/dec/02/my-favourite-film-kes
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/kes/
Very interesting, Atlal: do you think the Britain portrayed in Kes is different in any ways for the Britain you know in 2014?
ReplyDeleteThank you Andrew. As you know my interest in films is still new especially British film, so I am not sure whether I can answer your question accurately. Anyway, Based on what I knew, Kes represents the life style of working-class society in 1960th in north England where there was a social Disintegration. Therefore, in the films, characters mainly portrayed aggression behaviors , bullies ,violent ,and brutality that was common in that society at that time such as the characters of Casper’s old brother and headmaster. It is also portrayed streak of wit and intelligence in individuals faces. Despite that I have not watched a new Britain film yet, I could say that portrays could be depend on the story and its time regardless film production date. I think also Director vision plays significant role in forming film characters and roles.
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DeleteCan you find any further evidence (elsewhere) to confer this point of view (that there was social disintegration in Britain at this time)? Any other films? You could do some background research. Your argument will be more credible the more sources you can find that will support this.
Ken Loach is an important director. Perhaps it would be interesting to watch some of his other films..
ReplyDeleteThank you for your suggestion .yes,definitely! I really interested in watching more movies for Ken loach in the near future. I am planning to watch his new film “Jimmy’s Hall “ this weekend.
DeleteGood. I don't know this one, so you can educate me. See if there are similar themes and portrayals in this film. Perhaps you can build up a picture of how Ken Loach sees Britain.
DeleteNice sharing of the film. The children in the movie is always running,and he desire for freedom like the eagle ,but he always looks very tierd.It seems that he lost his happiness,maybe because of the family relationship and the economic burden.Personaly,the boy likes the Kes, longed for freedom, but bound by life pressure.Looking forward to the same type of movies.
ReplyDeleteThank you Catharine. Absolutely!. It is so poignant to see how life deprived a shrewed clever boy of understanding himself and being active and productive in his surrounding.
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