Kes (1969)

A harsh and fascinating 

delve into the effect of 
one's environment,
 and the struggles
 of impoverished

 Northern-English life. 

    

Kes is a highly interesting time/culture capsule about life in late sixties Northern-England. To this day it remains an iconic cultural touchstone for classic British cinema and has become something of a yardstick when analysing other socially aware and low-key British dramas. This is due to many factors, not least of which is the films emotional realness and poignancy. 

The film evokes the Neo-Realist cinematic movement, which began in post war Italy as response to the horrid poverty and political upheaval of the period.  Kes bears many similarities to films within this movement, for example 'Bicycle Thieves'. Both are notoriously depressing and somber films, both also ending in a grave unfairness towards the central character , and both seek to display the key social issues within the setting. Kes shows period Yorkshire as a harsh and cold place, wherein there is little warmth or tolerance towards the misguided and confused youth, as we see in our main character here. However, Kes focuses on the struggles of a youth rather than a grown man, and is more personal due to it's portrayal of a simple kind of friendship. Bicycle Thieves is one of the most powerful moral fables ever put to screen, however Kes focuses more on emotional strife than moral quandaries. 

We as an audience relate closely with Billy, for his worries and pains are all relatable and unjust. I must give high praise to David Bradley, for his naturalistic and emotionally raw performance in this starring role, even more impressive due to his age. Along with Billy, the other characters all feel like real people and behave appropriately for the setting. Every despondent stare, every frustrated outburst and every cold world view helps to create this tapestry of life in this environment. The accent may be a sticking point for some people, and yes it can be difficult to understand at times. However it is totally authentic, as is everything within the film (even the dead Kestrel is real) and helps to further immerse the viewer into the setting. Kes's slow and ponderous pace allows further immersion into the environment, and allows an almost subliminal connection to be made between the viewer and the hopeless people on screen. I must honestly say that Kes stands as one of the best insights into another culture, that I have ever seen. 

Aside from it's pitch perfect setting and appropriate acting, the cinematography is lovely. It is raw and almost documentarian in it's style, containing a truth and realism unknown to larger or less focused productions. There are several wonderful shots within the film, not least being the quiet sequences of Billy flying Kes or the almost ethereal walks through forestry. The use of woodwind instrumentation in these forest sequences give the film an almost fairy-tale feeling for a few brief moments, these stand in wonderful contrast to the rest of the film's sobering realism. Overall the film's atmosphere and aesthetic are raw and powerful, evoking strong emotional responses even separate from Billy's plight.

In conclusion, I adore this melancholic slice of British realism. It is a unique and powerful window into a fascinating society, and a touching character study in the simplest sense of the phrase. There is a good reason as to why this has become one of the most important and inspirational works in classic British cinema.

By Jack D. Phillips

A Zoom Film Review