Review of Kes (1970) by Daniel K — 15 May 2011

3: This is one of those films where they are supposedly speaking English, but it wouldn't hurt to have subtitles. I'm being slightly facetious, as one eventually adjusts to the at first impenetrable dialect, but it is a bit difficult to follow at times.

Very authentic, as it is the quintessential working-class British film of the 20th century. This child, and all the other children that are attending school with him, certainly don't seem to have much to look forward to.

All he has is Kes, but when his drunkard miner brother kills his Kestrel hawk towards the end, it leaves him with essentially nothing. A Hollywood version of this film would have been radically different, with the boy growing up to be an ornithologist or a master falconer gaining worldwide fame and recognition.

However, this is not a Hollywood; far from it. It is made in a documentary-style that exudes authenticity and revels in specific locations and elements of society. The relationship between the boy and hawk is obviously the strongest part of the story, but sadly it is not meant to last.

He is doomed to mediocrity and unhappiness, just as all in his generation and in his class were and are. At least that's the message we seem to take away in the end.