Only Grans of a left wing persuasion need read

I wouldn't risk showing it to my grandchildren; I got in enough trouble when one of them was traumatised by watching a dvd of The Velveteen Rabbit that I'd bought for them #neverseem2getitright

Kes is described on Wiki as one of the films you must see before you are 14. So it is suitable for older DGCs. The book was at one point on the English curriculum in schools. There is some bad language and the end is very upsetting but I think the message would still be understood by today's kids.

Now I see it's not the same feature, but I suspect there is a crossover between the two.

Last year there was a Ken Loach feature shown simultaneously at cinemas (mainly independent art-house cinemas) and I wonder if this is the same one. It's called 'The Spirit of '45'. Well explained here:

No, you're right it was released as a film. I must have only seen it later on tv. (in black and white !)

can't do those either b---y h---l

ana it probably was I can't remember[smile hmm]]

Sorry, I thought it had only been shown on the tv...

But didn't I see it in the cinema? I do think that you only think you remember the past but in truth not very accurately. I found a diary not long ago and in it was an incident that I remembered quite inaccurately. That is why I think diaries are useful -although I don't keep one.

Perhaps it's just that our tvs at the time didn't 'do' colour?

the film is based on a novel 'A Kestrel for a Knave' by British author Barry Hines, published in 1968.
very good read - nothing to do with party leanings we all of us have empathy with how things were hard in the past

Oh so I must be losing my marbles - or making coffee at the time didn't we see a clip that was in colour!! ?

(scrap the extra 'n'!)

So was Cathy Come Home

It was in black annd white!

I remember Kes as black and white - rather weird .

Probably a floating voter jing you sound like one - sort of open minded, as apposed to me.

Oh! Right. I don't think I've even read the book. Will scrap that idea. Thanks Tegan.

I couldn't understand what they were saying when I first tried to watch TWTSTB; will use subtitles next time. I think the granchildren would be upset watching Kes .

Might try Kes out on grandsons.

What did he call it - about the BBC's policy these days. Micro editing?

I think it's possible to be a Tory but with leftie leanings. Either that, or I was actually born to be a floating voter.

I think his film, "the Wind that blows the barley", might be very hard to take. Going by the awful execution scene in the clip shown.

Agreed with his remarks about the BBC and how they have become less radical and more fearful over the years - especially in the plays they put out. I agree with what he said about how it is constantly looking over it's shoulder at the government - re Cameron's remarks make to the Robinson during the election.

I am sure that much of what we saw in the 60's, and 70's was far superior to what we see today in their drama.

Interested also in the Times remarks which compared Loach to one of Hitlers cronnies when the film about Ireland was released, a tad extreme , but also depressing that the argument descends to that level.

Thanks whitewave (although I think that it goes without saying that people of a particular class will have more in common with each other than with people of another class )

that is across nations - if you get my drift

trish yes what I was hoping that there would be a discussion without it becoming a slanging match between people of different beliefs. There is much to discuss and perhaps even criticize some aspects of the programme (IMO), for example I am still not sure if what he says about the unions is entirely correct, but this can be done without the debate falling into as you say a right v left.

ana no I don't think trish was saying that Loach said that at all - what socialists believe is that people of a particular class have more in common with each other than with people of another class. But they use this in a specific way, and it has nothing to do with culture etc.

I'm not sure I understand your last sentence, trisher. Are you saying that it's the socialist ideal that only people of the same social class can be united across international boundaries?