Kes (1969)

Ken Loach seems to acquire a surer mastery of his art with each picture, yet this, one of his earliest features, is still one of his best. Adapted from Barry Hines's "grim up North" novel, it has such a ring of authenticity that you can almost smell the chips. As ever, Loach coaxes remarkable performances, with Freddie Fletcher epitomising bullying big brotherhood and Brian Glover caricaturing every games teacher who never made it. Outstanding, however, is David Bradley as the teenager who finds solace in a baby kestrel from the pain of his dysfunctional family life and the torment of school.