I read A Kestral For A Knave when I was at school, and when I saw the film I could not believe how perfectly it translated the book. Billy looked exactly right and the whole atmosphere was perfect.
The only admission is perhaps the most upsetting passage in the book, Billy's "tall story" but this compensated for by the beautiful performance by Colin Welland as the teacher.
This is the only film I have ever cried at in my life and I well up just thinking about it. When Billy flings himself sobbing onto the sofa at the end of the film its heartbreaking.
And there's not a jot of sentimentality to be found anywhere.
The only admission is perhaps the most upsetting passage in the book, Billy's "tall story" but this compensated for by the beautiful performance by Colin Welland as the teacher.
This is the only film I have ever cried at in my life and I well up just thinking about it. When Billy flings himself sobbing onto the sofa at the end of the film its heartbreaking.
And there's not a jot of sentimentality to be found anywhere.