Kes

A working-class boy's spirit is kindled when a kestrel enters his life.

Billy (David Bradley) is the son of a northern miner whose life expectations lead no further than following his father into the pits when he reaches adulthood. Billy is an ordinary child, doing the morning paper round, reading Desperate Dan comics on the way to school and playing football. Everything changes when he finds Kes, a young Kestrel that he takes in and begins to look after. Kes becomes Billy’s best friend and his obsession with learning the ways of the hawk finally gives him a purpose and his once empty landscape assumes new dimensions.

Curator's Note

Undervalued, unappreciated and underestimated. We, the audience, can see the potential in Billy Casper, and it's unmistakable to see that director Ken Loach does too. However, everyone around Billy sees a hopeless boy heading down a predictable path. So, when he takes the initiative to raise a kestrel and teach himself to train it, a fire is ignited inside him.

Ken Loach's thoughtful and considerate film asks a simple question: do we let these fires of inspiration and enthusiasm burn or do we stamp them out?

Kes premiered at the BFI London Film Festival in 1969 and has gone on to be an audience favourite ever since.

– Reece Goodwin, Curator (Film & TV)