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  • Essay / Passion, ambition and the transition to adulthood in Kes, a film by Ken Loach

    Known today as one of the UK's best films, Kes features unforgettable themes of childhood passion, ambition and separation. A masterpiece of 20th century cinema, Ken Loach's adaptation of the 1968 novel A Kestrel for a Knave continues to resonate with its audiences. Kes was one of Loach's first feature films which he made specifically for cinema. Throughout his career, Loach was often recognized for his socialist views and the application of these views in his films. Poverty and labor rights issues exist throughout Kes, with the locker room scene and the job interview scene. These social issues become as important to the film as the central plot of Casper training Kes. Other of his films such as Cathy Come Home (1966) and The Navigators (2001) also demonstrate social issues of poverty and labor rights. Unlike typical Hollywood films, Kes features dark moments and a heartbreaking ending. Loach never turned down the opportunity to expose real-life issues in his films. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Language and sound play an important role in the production of Kes. Loach's decision to use various non-diegetic sounds to bring about the disruption of different moods adds to the story as a whole. During darker, sadder scenes, the presence of background noise increases empathetic emotion towards Casper. Likewise, the presence of fast-paced music, as Casper tries to hide from his crazy brother, produces greater tension in the scene. In addition to the background music, the authentic Yorkshire-specific accents give a definite style to the film. Although Loach's decision to use authentic accents was frowned upon by many American critics, the dialect shaped the film and made it what it is. The dialogue allowed the audience to be present in each scene and feel part of the plot, rather than just a person watching a film. Chris Menges' phenomenal cinematography only adds to the many other remarkable aspects of this film. Menges' decision to use wide shots showcases the city perfectly. The audience easily creates a picture in their head of what the city looks like, as if they were there themselves. Menges often uses tracking shots to follow Casper as he runs around the city, tries to hide from Jude, or searches for Kes. This gives the audience the feeling that they are running alongside Casper and truly feel part of the intense search (or escape). Although the film's plot lacks focus and coherence, especially when compared to other films, Loach successfully portrays strong themes throughout the film. the entire film. It effectively grabs the audience's attention and maintains their interest even without a conventional plot structure. The film follows a young boy named Billy Casper and his daily struggle. He constantly has obstacles before him that should prevent him from succeeding; however, Casper's wit and quick thinking solve most of his problems. One day he decided to train a kestrel from a neighboring farm. With his stolen book as his guide, he slowly but surely trains his bird Kes. Interestingly, this film offers much more than the story of a boy and his pet bird. In fact, it's not about the bird at all. The bird could be a symbol of the human soul and of childhood. As Casper trains Kes, it becomes clear that this equal relationship between boy and bird symbolizes the.