Billy Elliot
2000, 111 minutes
A Northern dancing drama
The film is set during the UK miners' strike (1984–1985) and centers on the life of Billy (Jamie Bell), his love of dance and his hope to become a professional ballet dancer. Billy's father (Gary Lewis) and brother Tony (Jamie Draven) are both out on strike. Billy's mother is no longer alive and Billy and Tony's nan (Jean Heywood) also lives with the family. Billy is taken to the boxing gym by his father, but he finds out that he doesn't really like the sport. Part of the boxing gym is used by a ballet class because their usual studio in the basement of the sports centre is being used as a soup kitchen for the striking miners. He is drawn in by the ballet teacher (Julie Walters), and with her help, secretly starts taking ballet class. Billy's father finds out after the boxing teacher makes comment of Billy's absence. Billy is then forbidden to dance but continues secretly. As a consequence of Tony being arrested during a confrontation between police and striking miners, Billy misses an important audition for the Royal Ballet School. His ballet teacher goes to their house to tell his father about the missed opportunity. Billy's father and brother, fearing that Billy will be seen as a "poof", become outraged at the idea of him becoming a professional ballet dancer. Once having seen Billy dance however, his father understands that ballet is Billy's passion; and he takes him to an audition for the Ballet himself. Billy is accepted to the Royal Ballet, and moves out on his own at age 11 to attend the school. The film ends with a scene that takes place about 14 years later, where Billy has finally reached his goal through dancing: the older Billy (dancer/actor Adam Cooper) takes the stage to perform the lead in Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake.
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