It may be hard to imagine these days with investment cutting across national and cultural boundaries, how there once was a time when the British were known for the quality of their home grown film industry. 'A Kind of Loving' is one of those kitchen sink dramas that the British film industry was well known for in the sixties, but it is well done and stands out for its emotional honesty and quality of script and performance. Directed by John Schlesinger from the novel by Stan Barstow, the film explores the recesses of the heart in a way that makes it seem, well, ordinary. But don't be deceived. This film is anything but ordinary, precisely because it is so very good
Alan Bates stars as Vic, a young and naïve north country lad working straight out of school as a trainee draftsman. Out of boredom and a lack of real direction, he links up with an attractive, conventional young girl from the office named Ingrid who is eager to get married (played by June Ritchie). Instead she gets pregnant. Bates is afraid of the responsibility of looking after her and the child as this will seriously curtail his freedom as a single man. He is forced to marry her but they cannot afford a place of their own and make the mistake of moving in with her mother. Whilst waiting for their baby's birth the three of them do not manage to get along; Ritchie realises her mistake in not siding with Bates against her mother when they argue. The only hope that Vic and Ingrid have of remaining together is that they reconcile themselves to a more realistic kind of relationship.
This is a fine example of 60's English cinema, which saw a re-emergence at this time with a number of directors starting out on their careers and going to Hollywood later, on the coat-tails of their achievements closer to home. John Schlesinger doesn't seem to do much, except to ensure that the camera is pointed in the right place at the right time, so that a realistic and human story will be revealed with the best possible impact. June Ritchie dropped out of sight but Alan Bates went onto to a distinguished career in film, on stage and television. He is really marvellous, and gives a perceptive performance of a young man questioning his place in society but having no idea of what the alternative might be. The rituals are simple to perform: going out and getting drunk with your mates, seducing girls, going to work, often at a job that you may not even like. But what is else is there to do? This is a very human dilemma and Bates is perfect without making the character either an obnoxious bully or a mewling mummy's boy. Thora Hird is excellent as Ingrid's mother who either cannot or will not see that she is being too over protective of her daughter. Bates dominates this film with a performance which was a preview of things to come for his many fans, but I think that this early effort is one of his best films.
Everyone else in the cast distinguish themselves and a film like 'A Kind of Loving' will stay in your mind as a really wonderful film entirely worthy of its reputation and also of your time.
Alan Bates stars as Vic, a young and naïve north country lad working straight out of school as a trainee draftsman. Out of boredom and a lack of real direction, he links up with an attractive, conventional young girl from the office named Ingrid who is eager to get married (played by June Ritchie). Instead she gets pregnant. Bates is afraid of the responsibility of looking after her and the child as this will seriously curtail his freedom as a single man. He is forced to marry her but they cannot afford a place of their own and make the mistake of moving in with her mother. Whilst waiting for their baby's birth the three of them do not manage to get along; Ritchie realises her mistake in not siding with Bates against her mother when they argue. The only hope that Vic and Ingrid have of remaining together is that they reconcile themselves to a more realistic kind of relationship.
This is a fine example of 60's English cinema, which saw a re-emergence at this time with a number of directors starting out on their careers and going to Hollywood later, on the coat-tails of their achievements closer to home. John Schlesinger doesn't seem to do much, except to ensure that the camera is pointed in the right place at the right time, so that a realistic and human story will be revealed with the best possible impact. June Ritchie dropped out of sight but Alan Bates went onto to a distinguished career in film, on stage and television. He is really marvellous, and gives a perceptive performance of a young man questioning his place in society but having no idea of what the alternative might be. The rituals are simple to perform: going out and getting drunk with your mates, seducing girls, going to work, often at a job that you may not even like. But what is else is there to do? This is a very human dilemma and Bates is perfect without making the character either an obnoxious bully or a mewling mummy's boy. Thora Hird is excellent as Ingrid's mother who either cannot or will not see that she is being too over protective of her daughter. Bates dominates this film with a performance which was a preview of things to come for his many fans, but I think that this early effort is one of his best films.
Everyone else in the cast distinguish themselves and a film like 'A Kind of Loving' will stay in your mind as a really wonderful film entirely worthy of its reputation and also of your time.