Review of Billy Elliot (2000) by Alison M — 02 Apr 2012

A gem of a film, by turns poignant, gritty and hilarious. The casting, acting and screenplay are all superb.

Would-be-dancer Billy Elliot, 12ish, is unfazed by the behaviour of the people closest to him: the uncompromising, working-man machismo of his father and elder brother, the pubescent knowingness of his female school chum, the unsmiling bossiness of his ballet teacher, and the crush his gay classmate has on him. He lives in a teenage reverie in which dancing is the only thing that's real.

The backdrop to Billy's life is one any British person over 45 will find familar: the bitter miners' strike of the early 80s. The presence of the picket lines and police barriers is not explained; we are seeing events through the eyes of a 12-year-old and their behaviour is without meaning, even slightly humorous - a very skillful directorial touch.

Eventually (when his father, finally accepting that his son is never going to be like him, makes a supreme sacrifice) Billy makes it to an audition in London, and while this should have been a joyous climax, for me this was the only weak point in the film. I found the audition scene utterly unconvincing because not only is Jamie Bell (Billy) utterly unable to dance, but the panel fails to ask him any searching questions. One is left wondering why on earth Billy should be selected. (And why they didn't pick an actor who CAN dance.).

Having said that, though, this is such a wonderful film that this small disappointment can and should be ingored.