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Actors: Jamie Bell, Julie Walters
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Billy Elliot |
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Based on a screenplay directly written for the screen by Lee Hall, BILLY ELLIOT is a British production directed by Stephen Daldry in 2000. The picture earned three nominations (actress, director and screeplay) for the 2001 Academy awards.
Set in a small industrial town of the northern part of England in 1984, BILLY ELLIOT describes the family problems encountered by an eleven years old boy who's got a passion for dancing. Strongly missing his late mother, Billy is not understood by his father and his brother who would like him to practice boxing. While Billy is training a lot under Julie Walter's direction, a strike at the only mine in town destabilizes the Elliot's poor family that is treating Billy as a scapegoat. A few months later, Billy's got a unique opportunity to pass a dance exam at Newcastle but his brother is arrested by the police on the same day.
--Daniel Staebler, Resident Scholar
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"Billy Elliot" is set in the North East of England (Where i live!!!) in the 1980's a time of political unrest and severe unemployment for many parts of Britain- Newcastles mining industry being struck really bad. Billy (Jamie Bell) is eleven and his family are suffering from the redundancy. His dad can JUST afford to still allow him money for boxing club. Billy is useless at boxing and only keeps it up to please his father. One day he stumbles upon the ballet class and the openess of it's tutor(Julie Walters)He shows a raw talent which only improves the more and more he practices. (Thoses scenes of him dancing in the toilet cubicles!!) Mrs Wilkonson (Walters) encourages him to go and autition for the Royal Ballet school in London but due to self-doubt in himself and no encouragement from family (He is too afraid to tell his father and his mother has passed on leaving him only a letter he has memorised and recalls to walters in a touching scene)he passes up the opportunity. There is a big blow-up between father and son when Mrs Wilkonson pushes him to go and Billy succumbs to her determination and his own dreams but though there are some heartbreaking scenes where you truly feel sorry for him and his life (Yes, it SOMETIMES is like that) you feel happy about the resolution and being a performing arts student (well any human can't help but do this i gasped at the cinema by the almighty ending. I had a tear in my eeye and thought the last scene was tremendous and really sealed the film to perfection for me. Jamie Bell (how cute?) Was an ideal casting for Billy (I know they searched and searched for a 'special boy')and is an excellent dancer. Stephen Daldry (Director) shows great ability and truth in what, i believe, was his first FILM direction. (Has worked in theatre before) I think this is one of the best British films in ages, and am proud it was based in my hometown.
--Mimi Mac, Resident Scholar
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Set during the minor strikes of 1984, Billy Elliot follows the story of a talented young boy (Jamie Bell) who gains an interest in ballet while attending boxing classes. Secretly he attends ballet instead, and forms a strong bond with his teacher(played by Julie Walters).
When his father learns of his new found interest, it threatens to break up the family.
--Mark O'Connell, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Billy Elliot |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 1980's-1999
Kids growing up/acting up?
Yes
Kids:
- fighting with parents
Family, struggling with
Yes
Struggle with:
- Father
Parent(s) gone?
- Momma gone
Job/Profession/Poverty Story?
Yes
Job:
- dancer
Training/apprentice story
Yes
Ethnic/Regional/Gender story?
Yes
Main Char. ethnic: (if not US Caucasian)
- British
Woman/class/friends story?
- story of lower class
Story of city/rural life?
- Small Town
Culture of surrounding area:
- British
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- student
Age:
- a kid
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) very skinny
Events of movie makes character more...
- happy
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn straight
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 60%
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average
Ethnicity/Nationality
- British
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- England/UK
Small town?
Yes
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
Movie makes you feel...
- encouraged
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references only
Non-American film?
Yes
What language?
- English
Subtitles?
- No
Any profanity?
- A lot of foul language
If lots of song/dance...
- lot of dancing
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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