Billy Elliot (2000)

Universal
director:
details
Rating: R
Release Date: Nov 3, 2000
Running Time: 111 mins. (V)
Country Of Origin: United Kingdom
synopsis
The life of a miner's son in Northern England is forever changed one day when he stumbles upon a ballet class on his way to boxing lessons. Joining the class, but keeping it a secret from his widowed father and overbearing brother, 11-year-old Billy finds himself in love with dance, demonstrating the kind of raw talent seldom seen by the class' exacting instructor, Mrs. Wilkinson. She encourages him to try out for the Royal Ballet School in London, where he can refine his craft while escaping his oppressive surroundings. But when his father and brother find out about the ballet class and forbid him to continue, Billy is torn between his responsibility to his family and that to the gift with which he has been blessed. His overwhelming desire to dance has become much more to him than simply a means of self-expression. It is his passion, and it is his destiny.
cast + crew
Director
Billy
Grandma
Michael
George Watson
Mr Braithwaite
Mrs Wilkinson
Librarian
screenplay
Producer
Producer
Executive Producer
Executive Producer
Executive Producer
Executive Producer
reviews
Source

Newcomer Jamie Bell, himself a dancer since the age of six, delivers a stirring performance as the title character. Bell skillfully uses his body to articulate Billy's inner longings through his awkward, unpolished movements and also handles the dramatic aspects of the role well. Julie Walters is terrific as the blasé dance teacher who recognizes Billy's gifts and offers to train him. Gary Lewis as Billy's dad takes what could easily have been a stock character and makes him almost heroic. When… Continued