Adapted from Barry Hines’s novel A Kestrel for a Knave, it tells of fifteen-year-old Billy Casper (David 'Dai' Bradley), who seems destined for a life in the coal mines of his home town, Barnsley. But Billy’s discovery of a kestrel, and his dedication in training it, give him optimism – however temporary.

Chris Menges’s cinematography is as lyrical as John Cameron’s score, which seems to reflect Billy’s hidden potential while simultaneously sounding cautionary notes. Loach’s relaxed direction of a cast that includes ex-wrestler Brian Glover and future Chariots of Fire writer Colin Welland is as impressive as the unsentimental tenderness with which he depicts Billy’s life.

The showing will be followed by an onstage Q and A session with Dai Bradley (Billy Kaspar).

The Working Class Film Festival

Friday 8 - Sunday 10 May 2026 sees the inaugural Working Class Film Festival take place at Showroom Cinema. The festival aims to highlight the talent of a wide and underrepresented demographic within the film industry; with only 8% of people working within the creative sector being born into a working class family.

Explore The Working Class Film Festival

Director Ken Loach
Year 1969
Duration 1h 49m
Language English
Cast David Bradley, Freddie Fletcher, Lynne Perrie