Greg Davies: Looking for Kes
2019
Documentary
Greg Davies: Looking for Kes
2019
Documentary
Plot summary
Comedian, actor and ex-English teacher Greg Davies is a lifelong fan of Barry Hines's classic novel A Kestrel for a Knave, the story of Billy Casper training a kestrel as an escape from his troubled home and school life. In this documentary, Greg goes in search of the book's enduring appeal, travelling to Barnsley, where the book was set and where Ken Loach's famous adaptation, Kes, was filmed.
September 29, 2023 at 02:18 AM
Tech specs
720p.WEB 1080p.WEBMovie Reviews
A Kestrel for a Dave
I'm not the biggest fan of large task-giver Davies but I was really taken with this charming and sarcastic 2019 documentary about the book, it's author, the film and the cultural impact of Kestrel for a Knave. Greg travels to the lands to Barnsley and meets pretty much meets every relevant bod he can lay his hands on. There's an admirable brusqueness and genuine anger to proceedings which belays some of the usual mawkishness or nostalgia that may infuse such a project. Much like the story which it covets, there's some real beauty to it too, watching the real inspiration for Kes (Barry Hines's own brother) interacting with a Kestrel is as moving as seeing young Billy Casper from the film grown into an earnest old fella.
Emotional and Inspiring Documentary
If you watched the film Kes, or read the book "a Kestrel for a Knave" when you were at school, then you May find yourself both laughing and crying as I did watching this documentary. I imagine spending time with Greg Davies would be enjoyable, and this film allows us to do that as he speaks to the film makers, and locals of Hoyland Common, along with others who have been inspired by the novel and film. Greg is a natural for this, especially with his obvious affinity and love of the book and the insight it offers into social and educational issues. More than anything it was hugely entertaining