Only Grans of a left wing persuasion need read

Must watch 'Cathy come home again'. Friends brought the DVD of one of his latests films, absolutely full of humour- and quite different from previous ones. We've watched it at least 5 times- it's just wonderful, hard and yet so funny. The Angel's share- about troubled youngsters in Glasgow.

Such a humane, humble and talented man.

I don't think it is wrong to ask for a discussion to be amongst interested parties. There are some people who always want to turn things into a left V right discussion. This thread is about Ken Loach and his opinions. jbf how can a discussion about anyone's career be anything but backward looking? I thought he was equally interesting about the past and today. His remarks about the difference between young people when he made "Kes" and when he made "Sweet Sixteen"-'now they have nothing'- was very perceptive. His idea that people can be united by social class across international boundaries has always been the socialist ideal.

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?

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.

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.

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 )

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.

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.

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

Might try Kes out on grandsons.

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 .

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

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.

It was in black annd white!

(scrap the extra 'n'!)

So was Cathy Come Home

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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:

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