Film: Billy Elliot
Director: Stephen Daldry
Country: UK
Released: September 2000
Runtime: 110 minutes
Genre: Musical Drama
Studio: Working Title
Influenced: John Carney, Lone Scherfig, Clio Barnard, Taika Waititi, Greta Gerwig
Inspired by a one-act play called Dancer, written by Lee Hall, Billy Elliot gained momentum when it was picked up by Working Title Films, with Hall asked to expand the play into a screenplay and Stephen Daldry chosen to direct. Set in County Durham in the mid-1980s, it takes places during one of the worst coal mining strikes in British history. The story revolves around an 11-year-old boy named Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell), who discovers a passion for dancing after listening to his brother's vinyl collection and stumbling into a girls' ballet class. Billy faces the challenge of pursuing his dream in a working-class community that is deeply rooted in traditional values and expectations of masculinity, including his coal miner father Jackie (Gary Lewis) and brother Tony (Jamie Draven). On one side of Billy's family are hard, gruff men who are miners, boxers and drinkers, and on the other side are his musically talented dead mother Jenny and still alive but senile grandma (Jean Heywood).
In one early scene, we see Billy’s grandma saying she could have been a ballet dancer, interspersed with footage of Fred Astaire dancing in Top Hat. Billy's mother also loved musicals, and his love for the piano and dancing are markers of this (almost) lost heritage that he carries with him. Billy attempts to train secretly with the help of his ballet teacher Sandra Wilkinson (Julie Walters), but ends up facing opposition and ridicule from his family and community. As well as the film being about social class, and the barriers working-class kids face when trying to access the arts, it is also more simply about finding a voice. Undoubtedly the film takes a few missteps into sentimentalism and escapism, often veering more towards fantasy than kitchen sink drama, but it's still a powerful coming-of-age drama that explores themes of self-discovery, perseverance against all odds and the importance of a good teacher.
When Jackie finds out his son is spending his 50p coins on ballet classes instead of boxing, he is initially enraged but then comes to appreciate his talent when Billy performs a memorable dance routine in front of him. This leads Jackie to take desperate measures, and attempt to cross the picket line, so that he can give his son the opportunities he never had. Another important figure in Billy's progress is his teacher Sandra, and on one level the film is about the importance of a good coach who can spot and support talent. Very soon after Billy starts the ballet lessons, Sandra suggests she takes him to Newcastle for regional auditions for the Royal Ballet, and when Billy is invited to London for auditions, Jackie insists on taking himself. This leads to the film's emotional climax, where Billy's father and brother attend his performance in Swan Lake at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, showing their acceptance and pride in his talent.
Billy Elliot received critical acclaim and garnered numerous awards and nominations, including the BAFTA Award for Best British Film and three Oscar nominations. The film's success extended beyond awards, becoming a cultural touchstone for its portrayal of artistic expression in the face of adversity, as well as a successful West End and Broadway musical involving Elton John. Daldry uses music in the film to brilliant effect, notably T-Rex's Cosmic Dancer in the opening scene and Get It On in a later montage. The film also features other classic songs from The Clash and The Jam, but for some unfathomable reason, the producers chose Stephen Gately’s I Believe for the end credits. Julie Walters received her first Oscar nomination for her superb portrayal of the unfulfilled but generous teacher Sandra, while newcomer Jamie Bell – who had no formal training in ballet – won a BAFTA Award for Best Actor. Walters, Bell and director Daldry would all go on to build successful Hollywood careers.
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