Really great movie. Simple story, well told, well filmed. It made me remember of the silent kids in the class, who never tell stories, who are always reluctant to participate and who always seem forgotten unless there's trouble. It makes me think of the people I know who gone through shit, and never had support to learn to cope with it. It's satisfying to see the old teachers and authority figures being so pathetic and ignorant, yet trying. They seem to be aware that they can't help these boys escaping from a sad life, and seem as convinced of their uselessness as the kids.
Many movies and books have caught the suffering and pride and the hopes and despairs of mining towns, but none as naturally as this one.
There are wonderful moments of kindness that warm up the whole movie. There's the confirmation that there's something out there for all of us, an activity in which we can get lost, feel that flow.
The kid acts really well! And he fits so well in the story, his skinny body, his small eyes, his expression of being used to injustice and confusion, but still sensitive. He feels always out of place except when he is with his bird or tells about it.
Similar feeling as 'my childhood' (https://www.icheckmovies.com/movies/my+childhood/)
ps: I love the accents, many movies seem to be scared of it, but it offers so much: diversity, immersion, realism...
David Bradley’s performance as Billy Casper is incredible. There is something magical about the fringes of a town where it meets the country, where space opens out and a different kind of solitude becomes possible.
I've got an ear for accents, but we're so deep in Yorkshire in Ken Loach's Kes that I might have needed subtitles. But Loach's approach is immersive faux documentary. It feels like we're watching real people (and we are, there are lot of non-actors) in real places, really speaking and living. The plot summary sounds like a heart-warming family picture - a poor, bullied boy finds solace in training a kestrel - but it really avoids formula, putting the bird sometimes far in the background to focus on school and family life (where the boy, Casper, is constantly brow-beaten and sometimes just plain beaten - the P.E. sequences gave me PTSD) and opting for literary naturalism where you just can't get out of the pit no matter how hard you try. To me, the most touching moment is when Casper is asked to talk about his hobby in front of the class and for the first time this kid who's neither good at academics, sports nor socializing comes alive. In another film, that would have propelled him into a secure or happy future, but Loach is too realistic for that. The movie ended, and I found I was openly weeping. For Casper, for my young self who was also into some niche thing more than I was into people, for billions of misfit kids throughout history who were abused or ignored by a system they never made.
I can see how a lot of people struggled with the Yorkshire accent, especially the children, but I'm from NZ and had little trouble understanding the majority of the dialogue.
Don't be intimidated by previous comments if you can't watch it with subtitles. A worthwhile film.
I don't know what version you watched, but the 2011 Criterion release has subtitles. This movie would be all but incomprehensible without them.
I like it how the characters say 'thou' and 'thine', etc. Whatever low class dialect this is, it's ironically closer to Shakespeare than the respectable English of My Fair Lady.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 19
Lumen
Really great movie. Simple story, well told, well filmed. It made me remember of the silent kids in the class, who never tell stories, who are always reluctant to participate and who always seem forgotten unless there's trouble. It makes me think of the people I know who gone through shit, and never had support to learn to cope with it. It's satisfying to see the old teachers and authority figures being so pathetic and ignorant, yet trying. They seem to be aware that they can't help these boys escaping from a sad life, and seem as convinced of their uselessness as the kids.Many movies and books have caught the suffering and pride and the hopes and despairs of mining towns, but none as naturally as this one.
There are wonderful moments of kindness that warm up the whole movie. There's the confirmation that there's something out there for all of us, an activity in which we can get lost, feel that flow.
The kid acts really well! And he fits so well in the story, his skinny body, his small eyes, his expression of being used to injustice and confusion, but still sensitive. He feels always out of place except when he is with his bird or tells about it.
Similar feeling as 'my childhood' (https://www.icheckmovies.com/movies/my+childhood/)
ps: I love the accents, many movies seem to be scared of it, but it offers so much: diversity, immersion, realism...
VagueVisages
David Bradley’s performance as Billy Casper is incredible. There is something magical about the fringes of a town where it meets the country, where space opens out and a different kind of solitude becomes possible.VChile
Subtitles were helpful for me. The Yorkshire accent's a tough one for us Yanks. Great film, made me appreciate The Wall even more.Nowhere Man
Makes Billy Elliot look like Cinderella.In all seriousness, it is superb cinema.
Siskoid
I've got an ear for accents, but we're so deep in Yorkshire in Ken Loach's Kes that I might have needed subtitles. But Loach's approach is immersive faux documentary. It feels like we're watching real people (and we are, there are lot of non-actors) in real places, really speaking and living. The plot summary sounds like a heart-warming family picture - a poor, bullied boy finds solace in training a kestrel - but it really avoids formula, putting the bird sometimes far in the background to focus on school and family life (where the boy, Casper, is constantly brow-beaten and sometimes just plain beaten - the P.E. sequences gave me PTSD) and opting for literary naturalism where you just can't get out of the pit no matter how hard you try. To me, the most touching moment is when Casper is asked to talk about his hobby in front of the class and for the first time this kid who's neither good at academics, sports nor socializing comes alive. In another film, that would have propelled him into a secure or happy future, but Loach is too realistic for that. The movie ended, and I found I was openly weeping. For Casper, for my young self who was also into some niche thing more than I was into people, for billions of misfit kids throughout history who were abused or ignored by a system they never made.neocowboy
I can see how a lot of people struggled with the Yorkshire accent, especially the children, but I'm from NZ and had little trouble understanding the majority of the dialogue.Don't be intimidated by previous comments if you can't watch it with subtitles. A worthwhile film.
MilenaFlaherty
Very moving and incredibly sad. I need a zany comedy after this.-1flb2-
Great movie. Good story, with real life like conditions of the working class. No problem watching or understanding dialogue as others have mentioned.Jimbo Slice
Watched this on TCM and figured out that if I turned subtitles "on" in my cable box that I could understand things MUCH better!greenhorg
I don't know what version you watched, but the 2011 Criterion release has subtitles. This movie would be all but incomprehensible without them.I like it how the characters say 'thou' and 'thine', etc. Whatever low class dialect this is, it's ironically closer to Shakespeare than the respectable English of My Fair Lady.
thefilmstage
Fantastic.dazedhaze
How can't anyone understand their accents? It's dead easy like.Forzelius
that PE teacher thoughjustwannaboogie
It were right good film that. No need turn on t'subtitles.locovoco
It's all so crystal clear now... I finally get the ikigai (Japanese: 'reason for being') of the Sex Pistols....Showing items 1 – 15 of 19