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Context • In the 1984 Miners Strike in England, brawn is more the theme than style, with violence all too common in the struggles of the strikers. Eleven year old Billy Elliot's father and his older brother, union miners themselves, are caught up in it, and the most bellicose elements of their personalities are in full swing. This makes Billy's affinity for dancing over boxing all the more unfathomable to them, and they don't support him in pursuit of his dream to become a ballet dancer.With the help of a local ballet teacher who secretly takes him under her wing, Billy persists and his talents as a ballet dancer develop impressively. Still, to pursue his dreams, Billy will need both financial support and encouragement from his family, and there is grave doubt whether either is available to him in a family psychologically consumed and financially impaired by the strike.Billy's father must balance his allegiance to his fellow miners with his allegiance to his family. How he resolves this conflict is the substance of this insightful, and ultimately uplifting, film.
Production • Arts Council of England • Was released in the UK and France, made by a British Company • Released 29th September 2000 • Directed by Stephen Daldry (The Reader, The Hours, Eight) • Written by Lee Hall (Pride and Prejudice, The Wind in The Willows) • Billy Elliot – Jamie Bell (King Kong, Jumper, Defiance) • Jackie Elliot – Gary Lewis (Gangs of New York, The Ecapist, Shallow Grave) • Mrs Wilkinson – Julie Walters (Harry Potter, Educating Rita, Mamma Mia!) • Was originally called ‘Dancer’ when taken to the Cannes Film Festival in 2000 but was confused with another film called ‘Dancer in the Dark.
Distribution • Working Title • BBC Films • US: universal Pictures • Was originally aimed at children the same age as Billy (11) but from the strong accent and themes shown the film was given a certificate 15. The producers hoped that this would still inspire teens to follow their dreams. • Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoiVEyCosEE
Good review – from the BBC • Billy Elliot is a would-be dancer growing up in a mining community - always a tough existence but during the strikes of the 1980s, an unbearably harsh world. Afraid of the reaction he'll get from family and friends, Billy keeps his newfound and unexpected love of ballet secret. Yet if he's good enough, this could be what saves him from the pit. • You are heartless if you don't love every minute of this - and the makers, led by BBC Films, should be very pleased about it, too. It's a simple tale but one that is extremely well told and acted. Fittingly for a story about dance, it doesn't put a foot wrong and is engrossing, funny, very sad, very moving and very uplifting. • Jamie Bell as the young Billy Elliot is especially impressive as he manages the complex emotions his character goes through when his secret is discovered and his hopes are blocked. He's also outstanding at the dancing - managing not just to be great at it but also to show us a progression as he struggles to become that great and the effort it takes to keep it up. • It's really about anyone who has wanted to do something with their lives but it does also show ballet as being as hard as physical labour. • Something does stop this just shy of being perfect, though it really is only marginally short of that. Possibly the tale at heart is too simple and the idea of the child struggling to become an adult is too familiar to make the story as good as the telling. But it's the best British movie for years - and certainly more movingly told than "The Full Monty".
Bad Review – Efilmcritic.com (Fred Topel) • Before viewing BILLY ELLIOT, one might think, "Why would they make a movie about a boxing kid who wants to be a ballerina?" After the film, one might still think, "Why would they make a movie about a boxing kid who wants to be a ballerina?" There's really nothing gripping about the film except a few interesting musical numbers. Otherwise it's a by-the-numbers fish out of water story without any comedy to keep it moving.What saves the film is the dance scenes that are there. They are simply marvelous. Unorthodox choreography compliments catchy tunes to get the audience moving. One particularly innovative number has Billy throwing a temper tantrum edited to the beat of the song. More scenes like this would have earned the movie higher marks.The acting is fine. Bell is convincing as a kid who doesn't understand what's going on in the world around him. Lewis is convincing as a weak man threatened by his son's empowerment. Walters plays the teacher role straight, with no eccentricities or for that matter uniqueness.But why make it R-rated? There may have been an audience for kids who could identify with Billy, but now they can't see it. Was it so important to create "realism" in the strike atmosphere by having everyone swear all the time? • BILLY ELLIOT is sure to generate
Exhibition • Was advertised by posters and trailer
