| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie Name | BILLY ELLIOT (2000) |
| Director | Stephen Daldry |
| Writer | Lee Hall |
| Lead Actor | Jamie Bell |
| Cast | Jamie Bell, Julie Walters, Gary Lewis, Jamie Draven, Jean Heywood, Stuart Wells |
| Genre | Drama, Coming-of-Age |
| Release Date | September 29, 2000 (United Kingdom) |
| Duration | 1h 50m |
| Budget | $5 million |
| Language | English |
| IMDB Rating | 7.7/10 |
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BILLY ELLIOT
Art films are often morally off the map, too precious, far-out, irrelevant or all-of-the-above. But that’s absolutely not true of this socko little British film about an exuberant 11-year old (Jamie Bell) who can’t keep himself from dancing.
Problem is, he lives in a troubled north England mining town amid the 1984 Thatcher era closings. And his widowed dad (Gary Lewis) is a desperate striking miner with a macho personality who prefers that his son learn boxing rather than ballet. After the shock wears off, though, Dad works hard (including a tormented bit as a despised strikebreaker) to get Billy the training he needs to qualify for his big audition at the Royal Ballet School.
This is basically a preadolescent Rocky story, in which this likably tough, masculine and truly gifted youngster overcomes poverty, class and gender stereotypes. Billy also impresses with a generous (but nonsexual) acceptance of and loyalty to his equally nonconformist (but nondancing) best pal, who is a quietly budding homosexual.
The most fun parts of Billy Elliot are surely the dance sequences. Bell cavorts (as if unleashed by the spirits of Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire) through the winding, cobblestoned town streets, as well as the gym-practice hall, both solo and with his no-nonsense teacher (played subtly by the charming, now 50ish Julie Walters of Educating Rita fame). The audition scene (before the stuffy, emotionless judges) is superbly British-funny as well as suspenseful.
This debut film by Stephen Daldry, artistic director of the Royal Court Theater, is about liberating people from social barriers to achieve their dreams. But its true glory is in not forgetting the family and friends Billy must leave behind. A best-film contender, recommended for mature viewers.
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