Practice session

Rating: 7/10 (15 August 2005)

Billy Elliot tells the simple story of a boy from the working classes having a particular talent for ballet. Because his mining family has troubles from both the death of the mother and a mining strike the talent is not recognized nor supported by his family. He does get support from a middle class woman (Julie Walters) who somewhat projects her own problems on Billy by giving him private lessons and develops his talent. (The class difference being shown by the dog that barks every time Billy or his father enters that community).
Others tales are spun in: Billy, Debbie and Michael reach puberty and the confusing time a teenager goes through on that age is well portrayed, for example by Debbie seducing Billy in an interesting scene where the camera rolls on so long it makes the scene almost uncomfortable, the gay Michael seducing Billy in a way, and Billy staying focused throughout, but having fear of failure. And we have the miner's strike at the time of Thatcher in office as a background story. Children as usual seem so unaffected by their environment, as Billy and Debbie walk along a couple of police men with Debbie's stick against them they talk on and aren't even aware of what's going on.
Besides the good soundtrack it is sometimes the editing of it all that gives this movie something extra: The weaving of Billy practicing at home from a book and executing that in the gym, mining strike images cut with Billy dancing. Stephen Daldry constructed some of the scenes in The Hours in the same way.
Three scenes in particular stand out for me: When Billy's father comes to terms with the talent of his son. When Billy leaves his home for London for his education: He says his grandmother goodbye, one final look at the house and the neighborhood (with the ever-present little girl) is such a good film moment. And the tale of The Swan Lake told when they take the ferry (!), here combined with the music.
But still this seems all exercise for the making of a more important piece of art: Stephen Daldry's almost perfect movie The Hours.