3 great stories in one movie.

Rating: 9/10 (15 August 2003)

I really enjoyed this movie. I heard something great about it, but i didn't expect that it can be so good. I really like the tender moments between the two boys. And at the end, when billy kissed the other boy on his cheek, that is a very sweet moment.
this movie basically has 3 stories. the main story is about Billy, the second is the strike at the mine. And the mini story is about Billy's friend who loves him. I was a little confused at the very beginning about the strike story. It did not explain well what was happening. However, I suppose that it maybe because I don't live in Britain, so I don't know their local events. I remembered seeing the movie "full monty" in which was also about stories laid off workers who worked at mines.
Unlike some of the movies in which you can always get the outcome, this film has quite a few unexpected twists in it. For example, when the teacher suggested Billy to go for an audition, one probably would expect that he would go to that audition and won admission instantly. then everyone will be happily ever after. it didn't happen that way.
There is one little minor detail that i didn't like. At the end of the movie, it showed the Billy's dad and brother visiting the grown up him dancing. However, I felt that the grown up billy is a little bit too old. they should have picked a teenager. And his dad looked older, however, his brother looked the same. That is not very convincing.