Billy Elliot - a local hero!

Rating: Null/10 (30 January 2001)

1984, County Durham, England. It was the time when Margret Thatcher wanted to close all the coalmines. Billy Elliot, 11, wants to learn dancing. His mother died a few years ago. But his father - he works in a coalmine - is against it. He says dancing is nothing for boys. But Billy doesn´t want to give up...
It´s not very often that I´m missing the words after watching a movie. I felt like in trance when I left the cinema. That´s the way I always feel when I´ve watched a movie that moved me emotional - and that´s a wonderful feeling! "Billy Elliot" shows the sad reality of life in the british working class - as before e.g. in "Brassed off" or "My name is Joe". That´s what I like about british cinema: true, bittersweet and always with a little touch of hope. Especially the dancing scenes were breathtaking. Jamie Bell is a true gift, but also Gary Lewis as Billy´s father, or Julie Walters as Mrs. Wilkinson, Billy´s dancing teacher, were wonderful. A shame if "Billy Elliot" would be ignored at this years academy awards. It´s an unforgettable movie - a milestone!