20 Cult British Films You Need To See Before You Die

6. Kes (1969)

15 year old Billy leads a miserable existence. Picked on in school and picked on at home, his life and its prospects are bleak indeed. He gets into minor truancy and antisocial behaviour and he seems destined for a life down the hated coal pit. However, despite seemingly having absolutely zero interest in anything and anyone, Billy comes across a kestrel he calls Kes and the boy and the bird develop a bond. Billy comes out of his insular world a bit and his prospects look brighter until a shocking act by his half brother puts a decisive end to a happy future for Billy. Major social realism depression fest from director Ken Loach, Kes is heartbreaking stuff that will put a real damper on your day once you watch it. You will be rooting so hard for Billy to come out of his shell and daydreams and find something, anything, to occupy himself. To see his hope fiercely and shockingly destroyed so casually by his big brother is not just depressing for Billy, it kills a little part of the viewer. Written by Barry 'Threads' Hines, Kes is very highly regarded by critics of British cinema - ranked by the BFI as one of the Top Ten British films of all time.