Kes

David Forrests study of Ken Loach's 1969 drama Kes examines the film's genesis, collaboration, funding, and production processes, and its lasting legacy in terms of film history and political and cultural value. He argues that the film's themes of emancipation and fulfilment are still relevant in our present era of systemic economic inequality, alienated labour, narrow educational systems, toxic masculinity, and ecological crisis.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 112 pages
Publication date: 02 May 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Ken Loach's 1969 drama Kes, widely regarded as one of the finest examples of British social realism, tells the story of Billy, a working-class boy who finds solace and purpose when he takes a fledgling kestrel from its nest. David Forrest's study of the film delves into the origins of the original novel, Barry Hines' A Kestrel for a Knave (1968), the collaborative process that brought it to the screen, and the film's funding and production processes. He offers a comprehensive analysis of key scenes and draws upon archival sources to shed new light on the film's most celebrated moments. Forrest also explores the film's enduring legacy, having influenced films such as Ratcatcher (1999) and This is England (2006), both in terms of its contribution to film history and as a document of political and cultural value. He argues that Kes remains relevant in our present era of systemic economic inequality, alienated labour, narrow educational systems, toxic masculinity, and ecological crisis. He contends that the film offers a path to emancipation and fulfillment through a more responsive and nurturing approach to education, a more delicate and symbiotic relationship with landscape and the non-human, and an emotional articulacy and sensitivity that transcends rigid gender expectations.

Weight: 178g
Dimension: 136 x 189 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839025648