One under-loved and undernourished young boy in the North of England finds hope through a young kestrel that comes in to his care. But how long will his happiness last?
The problem with this product is that it is what I call a pushed-down-your-throat Secondary Modern School classic: it was compulsory reading as part of the second tier English education system. Others of this cannon included A Taste of Honey and A Kind of Loving.
(Note: The English education system has been shaken up since both my education and the education on display here.)
After the film took off they even changed the title of the book to the film (it was originally called A Kestrel for a Nave) and put Bradley's picture of the front - giving an offensive V sign as I recall!
There is so much that the outsider won't quite catch - not least of which is the Yorkshire accent and slang. I hear that they put up captions on the DVD - so well done to them. I am sure there are a few people, even here in England, that have taken advantage of the service!
The acting of lead Bradley in his first ever production is quite frightening. He shows a natural aptitude to working before a camera. After this he appeared in a few TV series and then disappeared - I believe he wasn't that keen on the biz, although he still pops-up now and then.
The relationship with the bird is touching and sweet: and for a few moments Billy Casper (our anti-hero) has something to live for. Maybe it suggests that there is more to him than meets the eye - that he could have a future in farming or other hands-on countryside industries. However in the classroom he is a disaster.
(The fear of going "down'pit" is now well and truly over for the Billy Casper's of this world - every coal mine in the district is now closed! )
This is the film that most influenced Billy Elliot - so if you are looking for more of the same - this is your man. For me it is a time warp - but since I didn't really enjoy Secondary Education it is not a time warp I want to experience very often!
The problem with this product is that it is what I call a pushed-down-your-throat Secondary Modern School classic: it was compulsory reading as part of the second tier English education system. Others of this cannon included A Taste of Honey and A Kind of Loving.
(Note: The English education system has been shaken up since both my education and the education on display here.)
After the film took off they even changed the title of the book to the film (it was originally called A Kestrel for a Nave) and put Bradley's picture of the front - giving an offensive V sign as I recall!
There is so much that the outsider won't quite catch - not least of which is the Yorkshire accent and slang. I hear that they put up captions on the DVD - so well done to them. I am sure there are a few people, even here in England, that have taken advantage of the service!
The acting of lead Bradley in his first ever production is quite frightening. He shows a natural aptitude to working before a camera. After this he appeared in a few TV series and then disappeared - I believe he wasn't that keen on the biz, although he still pops-up now and then.
The relationship with the bird is touching and sweet: and for a few moments Billy Casper (our anti-hero) has something to live for. Maybe it suggests that there is more to him than meets the eye - that he could have a future in farming or other hands-on countryside industries. However in the classroom he is a disaster.
(The fear of going "down'pit" is now well and truly over for the Billy Casper's of this world - every coal mine in the district is now closed! )
This is the film that most influenced Billy Elliot - so if you are looking for more of the same - this is your man. For me it is a time warp - but since I didn't really enjoy Secondary Education it is not a time warp I want to experience very often!