Greg Davies: Looking for Kes

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.

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