Kes
“They beat him. They deprived him. They ridiculed him. They broke his heart. But they couldn’t break his spirit.”
Synopsis
Bullied at school and ignored and abused at home by his indifferent mother and older brother, Billy Casper, a 15-year-old working-class Yorkshire boy, tames and trains his pet kestrel falcon whom he names Kes. Helped and encouraged by his English teacher and his fellow students, Billy finally finds a positive purpose to his unhappy existence.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
KES - Brand New Masters of Cinema Trailer (SD version)Official
Type: Trailer • Published 2016-08-04
Top Cast
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David Bradley
Billy
Freddie Fletcher
Jud
Lynne Perrie
Mrs. Casper
Colin Welland
Mr. Farthing
Brian Glover
Mr. Sugden
Bob Bowes
Mr. Gryce
Bernard Atha
Youth Employment Officer
Laurence Bould
Joey Kaye
Pub Comic
Ted Carroll
Robert Naylor
MacDowell
Agnes Drumgoon
George Speed
Billy's Friend
Desmond Guthrie
Zoe Sunderland
Librarian
Eric Bolderson
Farmer
Joe Miller
Reg
Beryl Carroll
Release History & Theatrical Window
Shanghai International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
September 21, 1970
Wide Cinema Exhibition
November 23, 2011
Physical Home Media
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Ken Loach
- Screenplay & Story
- Ken Loach, Tony Garnett
- Original Score
- John Cameron
- Original Title
- Kes
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 51m
- Production Studios
- Woodfall Film Productions, Kestrel Films
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Ken Loach
Ken Loach, Tony Garnett, Barry Hines
John Cameron
Chris Menges
Roy Watts
Tony Garnett
Department Leadership Roster
Ken Loach
Director
Ken Loach
Screenplay
Tony Garnett
Screenplay
Roy Watts
Editor
Chris Menges
Director of Photography
Tony Garnett
Producer
John Cameron
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.
Tous publics — Universal audience.
Universal — Suitable for all audiences.
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Kes.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Kes.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Kes
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Kes about?
Bullied at school and ignored and abused at home by his indifferent mother and older brother, Billy Casper, a 15-year-old working-class Yorkshire boy, tames and trains his pet kestrel falcon whom he names Kes. Helped and encouraged by his English teacher and his fellow students, Billy finally finds a positive purpose to his unhappy existence.
Who directed Kes?
Kes was directed by Ken Loach.
Who stars in Kes?
The principal cast of Kes includes David Bradley, Freddie Fletcher, Lynne Perrie, Colin Welland, Brian Glover.
When was Kes released and how long is it?
Kes was released in 1970 with a total runtime of 1h 51m.
Who composed the musical score for Kes?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Kes was composed by John Cameron.
Is Kes based on a book or true story?
Kes is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Barry Hines".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Kes?
Kes holds official age classifications: AU: PG (Parental Guidance — Recommended for mature viewers.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); GB: U (Universal — Suitable for all audiences.); US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).