Born in an impoverished British working class community, browbeaten by his classmates, teachers, and older brother and destined for the coal mines, a young boy finds comfort in his pet falcon which he rescues from the forest as he studiously teaches himself the art of falconry. From Barry Hines' novel A Kestrel for a Knave, Ken Loach's early career triumph of the human spirit is a lovely, little heartbreaking film. with an innate performance from David Bradley, maybe the best youth performance ever committed to film, and insightful sociopolitical commentary not shoved in your face which could serve as a lesson to modern civic minded filmmakers. Funny, moving, beautifully done. I loved this movie!
**** out of ****
