A story of a boy.

Rating: 10/10 (26 January 2001)

There is something about a boy's story as depicted in film. It evokes our own coming of age, a cathartic moment sometimes that brings us to tears -- to see on film the events that oftentimes have touched our own lives, though I am sure few of us have found ourselves in the same situation as Billy, he still touches us -- because many of us have lost a parent, lived in confining conditions and have had dreams. Many of us have had touching friendships and demanding, but loving teachers. That is the power of Billy Elliot -- the story of one boy can surface our own memories, bring a tear as well. Maybe that is why when I went to see the film me, and my friends were all crying by the closing credits! I fell in love with Billy and his story.
The innocence of a child with a vision was best seen by this reviewer in Cinema Paradiso (I during that film too!). In Billy Elliot, the power of a child with a passion, with electrical desire to dance despite his situation as a poor boy living in the mining town of Durham, England is wrenchingly powerful. Together with totally mesmerizing acting jobs and magical and an upbeat soundtrack the movie takes you away from wherever you are and places you right in the life of Billy Elliot. I laud Stephen Daltry, Lee Hall Jamie Bell and the whole crew for their superb job in film craftsmanship. It is a film to touch and soften the sourest and brittlest of hearts.