Review of Kes

Introduction

Billy Casper is a boy who is stuck in 20th century hell - he lives with a mother and brother who don`t care for him, he struggles at school, and struggles socially. Although he may seem simple on the outside - being brought up in the working-class North - he is in fact incredibly complex and diverse underneath.

One day, whilst strolling aimlessly through the countryside, he comes across a kestrel`s nest, and soon adopts one of them - calling her Kes. He soon finds that he can relate so much to this small bird, and the two form a strong bond, only to be shattered in the harshest of circumstances...

Kes is based on the book, "A Kestrel For A Knave", by Barry Hines. The transition from book to screen was an interesting one, as director Ken Loach not only writes the good adaptation, but also directs - and one of the things he insisted on was using an unknown actor as playing outcast Billy Casper. The actor is David Bradley - a boy whose performance is so good in the film it seems as if he had previous experiece. Incidentally, Bradley tried to `smarten up` after the film was released, breaking away from his real working-class roots (just like the characters in the film, Bradley had the choice of mining or working in the local Co-Op after he left school) and subsequently quit acting because of lack of work.

Video

It is presented in 4:3 Fullscreen, and unfortunately, the print, nor the transfer, are anything to write home about. This was made in the 1960s, and suffers from lack of definition, lack of crispness, and even the odd compression sign (at counter reading 01:37:20 there is a particularly bad bout). However, given the age of the print, some leeway needs to be given.

The directing and cinematography in the film is good to very good: the sweeping landscape is a pivotal backdrop to the proceedings, and scenes of the kestrel flying are shot very well. Casper`s school features quite heavily in the film, and Loach directs intelligently, focusing amidst the usual mélêe well!

Audio

A DD Mono track is all we get, but, there is one mitigating factor as to why it isn`t as bad as some may think: the film is dialogue-driven, and the track does replicate the audio well. There is also one other factor, that, whilst isn`t justifying, is passable - the age of the film. But, one must remember that other MGM 60s releases come with remixed soundtracks (the 007 series is one): so it is a shame this doesn`t get the modern treatment, but, fortunately, the audio is sufficient.

The script is good, as the subject material is equally as good. The events are written well, with some good dialogue and the odd bit of humour thrown in for good measure.

Features

The only extra provided is a rather poor trailer. And when I say poor, I mean nothing like the trailers we see nowadays, yet it doesn`t give anything away, which is good I suppose.

The menus are static, albeit it with some good images in the background. They are very easy to navigate, and are offered in English and Dutch.

Conclusion

This is a powerful film that has aged gracefully - a film about a troubled child that can still apply today in the year 2002. The story of loner Billy Casper is ever present in today`s oppressive education system, where bullies reign, and the slightly weaker succumb.

Ken Loach has taken the finer points from the book and put it into an accessible film, that whilst may not appeal to today`s younger generation due to the 60s look, this is still very entertaining. Bradley gives a tortured and powerful performance as Casper, and it is shame he is no longer acting. The supporting cast also contribute well, and the decision to cast real pupils as the pupils at the school is a wise and realistic one.

Unfortunately, the DVD is not as good. It is a 2003 release: yet still suffers from a below-average transfer and distinctly average audio. As for the extras, well, let`s just leave it.

I can`t really give this disc my full backing due to a poor package, and since the film is frequently on TV, it seems sensible to check out the listings and record it. However, if this ever is in a bargain bin - and no doubt it will be within time - and you have some spare cash, since DVDs are better than VHS tapes, go for it, but do not pay the full RRP: it just ain`t worth it. A shame.