Being Different Amidst Dark Times Can Be Joyous

Rating: 10/10 (19 December 2005)

I went to "Billy Elliott" feeling suspicious of the rave reviews, saying, like Natalie Wood in "Miracle on 34th St.": "Yeah, yeah, I believe, I know it's silly but I believe." My gosh, the reviews were right -- this is not a schmaltzy just feel good movie.
It's even better then "Brassed Off" as a working-class-and-the-arts-movie. It reminded me of my favorite scene in King Vidor's "Our Daily Bread": "Your contribution to the group will be giving violin lessons to our children." (chokes me up every time I see that).
The emotion is ratcheted up here because the miners are in the middle of the doomed anti-Thatcher strikes and the dancing kid is simply incredible. The story is told visually through his face, body language amidst the different pressures he's caught between, and that irrepressible dancing (though not comparable to be in Oscar contention vs. non-dancing adults).
This isn't just about working class attitudes towards ballet and gays; their political and financial struggles are real, putting their bodies on the line for their solidarity and economic future.
In the midst of being "unfulfilled," as even the middle class representatives are, is one kid's glimmer of something inconceivable--being different. And what that means in every way to every person who knows, and loves, him.
The music's a surprise -- mostly T. Rex and the Clash.
(originally written 11/5/2000)