Kes

Thanks for the heads up Admin that Kes is on Film4 at 01.20am Wednesday. I have set it to record.
Interestingly I have just finished reading No Way But Gentlenesse - a memoir of how Kes, my kestrel, changed my life. By Richard Hines.
The book gives the full background to the film and did you know that Kes had his own stunt doubles. Good read.

I have just remembered what he called his Kestrels.

They were called Freeman, Hardy and Willis

Great film and the acting was not only incredible from many of the young people, it was realistic. The young lad (and the main character of the film) who played Casper was excellent. Judd was played so well that we were quickly introduced to his aggressive and bullying nature without even considering that he might have another side - and, naturally, we quickly disliked him.
What we must understand is, most of the people in the film were not recognized actors and many were totally unknown.
This film introduced us into a world which was real at the time and possibly still is in parts of Britain: a world which gives and takes away, where those few hopes are demolished and aggression rules. A society which dismisses the unfortunates and supports the strong.
After watching the film "Kes", I was motivated to go and buy the book and to sit down and read it. I discovered that the original title "A Kestrel for a Knave" had been changed to "Kes" and on the cover of the book I bought was a photograph of a very poor looking boy displaying his frustration and anger, which possibly was aimed at the society he had to try and survive in. There he was, "Casper" sticking up two fingers to the World, which I thought, at the time, was a perfect image.
At a later date, I'm not sure when, Casper with his rebellious salute to society was removed from the cover; possibly, it became unacceptable to certain members of our society. For me, the book and film is about Casper; his struggles, position in the family and society in which he finds himself in, the hopes and that chance of change, the frustration and his response in dealing with certain things. Therefore, Casper should be the character we first see no matter whether it's a poster or book cover.

If Kes reflected the 60,s of the working class towns of the North, Then ,
' this is England' reflected the 1980's, Also with also unknown actors at the time and, was so well watched, they created a series into the nineties which, is very watchable the whole way through,

very good watching

And 'Shameless' reflected life in the 00's

I have recently purchased 'A Kestral for a Knave' on my Kindle, but have yet to read it

Christopher Ecclestone recently did a reading Kes on the BBC . I really enjoyed it . I'd love them to do more programmes like this . It took me back to Jackanory when I was little .