Ba-lay

Rating: Null/10 (21 November 2000)

"Billy Elliot", in an earlier version, could have been "Flashdance" or "Educating Rita". But what this film lacks in originality, it more than makes up in athleticism and spunk. This is a special film about a special time and place in the life of an eleven year old boy, Billy Elliot (a remarkable performance by Jaime Bell), growing up amidst the turmoil of losing his beloved mother, of identifying who he is, and of facing down his stern father (Gary Lewis) and troubled older brother (Jamie Draven). Besides the close family bonding, Billy befriends Michael, a neighborhood chum who is only beginning to accept his sexual identity. And then there is 'Miss' (Julie Waters in a role reversal from "Educating Rita"), the ballet teacher 'slumming' in the nearby gym, willing to put Billy through the paces because she sees his real talent. It would be misleading to frame this film as just about a boy growing up in trying times because the only way Billy can achieve his dreams is if others around him grow up in lock step. His father must break away from the provincial mold that says the only masculine activities are playing football and boxing. 'Miss' must confront her 'swan-lake' fable that seemingly has stunted her own life - a lovely swan left in waiting by her wandering prince. This film is also heartfelt through and through from the tender advances little Debbie makes on Billy to the sobbing father wrestled by the older son from becoming a scab, to the rolling street, filmed dead-on with the placid bay on the horizon, that Billy triumphantly runs up and down after mastering a dance turn and later his dad repeats when Billy gets accepted to dance school. The memory of Billy's mother pervades his life and yet her physical presence shows up only once, a minor oversight to a film that envelopes your heart for two hours and lingers yet on and on.