Kes

Hi Charlie !

Last week, we went to watch Kes at the « Institut de l’Image » in Aix, after the marvellous Mr. Leah recommended it.

"Kes" is a movie made by the great and amazing and wonderful (without exageration) Ken Loach. It came out in 1969.

Here is a little summary ^^ Hope you don’t find it boring, because this movie is really not!

In England, Billy lives with his mother, who does not take of him and with his older brother who treats him as a scapegoat. Billy lives in a popular social environment and makes some small jobs in order to earn some money. At school, he is often distracted and surrounded by his classmates who act with hostility towards him. One day, when he walks he finds a falcon, he is immediately attached to it and he reveals a more endearing side, full of compassion, a boy who would do anything for his little creature.

Here is the trailer :

It’s funny, touching and beautiful. So, if you want to have a good time, you might want to watch it ^^

And you should (must) watch Ken Loach other movies. They are just…wow.

His movies show his strong political engagement for social conflicts and the struggle for the rights of workers or (illegal) immigrants. He is very engaged (left-winged).

For instance, after Margaret Thatcher died, he said:

“Margaret Thatcher was the most divisive and destructive Prime Minister of modern times. Mass Unemployment, factory closures, communities destroyed – this is her legacy. She was a fighter and her enemy was the British working class. Her victories were aided by the politically corrupt leaders of the Labour Party and of many Trades Unions. It is because of policies begun by her that we are in this mess today. Other prime ministers have followed her path, notably Tony Blair. She was the organ grinder, he was the monkey. Remember she called Mandela a terrorist and took tea with the torturer and murderer Pinochet. How should we honour her? Let’s privatize her funeral. Put it out to competitive tender and accept the cheapest bid. It’s what she would have wanted.” 

Mr. Leah posted an article about his movies, so have a look at it if you haven’t yet ^^ We personally can recommend some of them (because both of us haven’t watched the others yet) : Kes (of course), Looking for Eric, Land and Freedom, My Name is Joe, The Angel’s Share, Riff-Raff.

So that’s it ^^

Hope you liked it ^^

Bye!

Amina & Salomé