#billyelliot

Billy Elliot is a film with universal appeal. It’s laughs, solid drama, and speaks to anyone who has felt like something or someone was standing in the way of their dreams. More than just fluff, this feel-good movie is expertly acted and gets the little details right to make it something special.

Set in 1984, Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell) happens upon a ballet class in the gym where he reluctantly practices boxing. Despite the objection of his father and older brother (Gary Lewis and Jamie Draven), he decides to pursue his passion for dancing.

We’ve seen plenty of films where the rebellious child goes behind their parents’ back to pursue a dream. We’ve even gotten several stories where the kid in question wants to dance (Footloose for example). Yes, you can talk about the way the film makes you feel good, but that in this kind of story, that's a given. It doesn’t take much skill to show an angry father viciously reprimand his sensitive son and get the audience to sympathize. The way it's told is the reason Billy Elliot stands out. This tale is set in County Durham during the 1984-85 miners’ strike. It makes a world of a difference. Billy's father and older brother are not one-dimensional, close-minded bigots, they’re desperate people so frustrated with their lives they've become bitter. There’s something uniquely British about the film. The frank honesty of the dialogue, the nuanced characters, the way it shows everyday life - they all give this story character, make it feel like a once-in-a-lifetime deal. Billy Elliot could never be set in modern times, or at any other time before.

There’s an infectious energy radiating from the film. While watching Billy practice his pirouettes and plies, you feel like you know ballet. Not so much the techniques, but the heart of it. There’s such an overabundant joy present when Billy first puts on his dance shoes that you can’t help but jump up and cheer. Seeing the young boy let loose and express himself, it reminded of one of the purest expressions of delight I’ve ever seen on-screen, Arthur Hoggett (James Cromwell’s character) in Babe dancing to If I Had Words. It’s so emotional I can’t imagine how it could have been broken down into mere words in the screenplay.

That brings us to the performances. It helps that everyone is given meaty roles, but what we have here are great actors honing their craft. I’d like to think that like Billy, they had a passion for this project and decided to go all out. 

Billy Elliot is a great film not only because of the strong performances, the many memorable points and the unique British-ness of it all. It's the emotions you feel because of it that makes it great. When I think of Billy Elliot, I think of that quote from William W. Purkey;

“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,

 Love like you'll never be hurt,

 Sing like there's nobody listening,

 And live like it's heaven on earth.”

That’s what this movie is about. It’s a story about someone wanting something badly enough that they are willing to take that chance, to go all-out. You’ll be so pleased with it you won’t even mind that at points it is a tad predictable. I certainly didn’t. (On Blu-ray, October 7, 2016)

Curls of Smoke - Chapter 3 - now available to read on Wattpad!

After his girlfriend's manipulative behaviour reaches a terrifying peak, Florian Fleet leaves the school he attended with her and applies for a place somewhere new: on the ballet course at Oxworth Arts Academy. Healing from the trauma of that abusive relationship and struggling to keep his father happy, Florian's new life is rocky to say the least. But shocking news from home is about to make it even more difficult, and Florian's world will never be the same again.

“Don’t be upset?!” shrieked Kayla, “Of course I’m upset! Why wouldn’t I be upset?! You’d rather spend time with Trina’s brother than with me!” She jerked her head in Charlie’s direction. “Yeah, I know you’re eavesdropping!”

Charlie closed his sketchbook and put it in his bag. “To be honest, Kayla, it’s hard not to overhear. I’m in the same room, and you’re shouting.”

“Get out of my studio!” Kayla snarled at him, throwing her bag in his direction. It fell short, but made him flinch all the same. “God, you’re pathetic.”

“Fine, I’ll wait outside,” Charlie said, flinging up his hands in exasperation, “Duchess Gloria! Shada to vada you’ve venayed to class in such a kervare stink, but maybe it’s nanty but a shoddy journo.”