Kes (1969)

Like Song for a Raggy Boy, Angela's Ashes, War of The Buttons; Kes is a moving story, yet funny at times. Set in Yorkshire, it tells the story of Billy Casper (played wonderfully by David Bradley - not, not that David Bradley), who lives with his mother and an older brother, Jud. In the morning, Billy delivers newspapers and after that, goes to school. He is often bullied by other children. Billy's life is changed when he finds a young kestrel, whom he names Kes, steals a book from a second bookstore to learn more about falconry, and trains the hawk. This is a story about hope.

The teachers in Billy's school aren't always kind. There is a scene when Billy and his friends are caned on the hand for smoking, and there is this little boy who comes to bring a message for Mr. Gryce (who is beating them) from another teacher, but Mr. Gryce never gives him a chance to speak and also canes him. And there is the football scene, where the teacher who becomes one of the players, arrogantly wants his own team to win by any possible means, incl. dismissing the other team's captain for saying bad things about him.

The movie doesn't end happily. Jud sends Billy to put money on some horse, but Billy uses it to buy fish and chips. The horse wins. Jud has his revenge.