Marvellous Jamie Bell stars in his first role

Rating: 10/10 (9 February 2001)

It took a while before Billy Elliot reached our theatres, but if waiting is as rewarded as in this case, I always would like to wait for a film to revail its magic. As a Belgian, who has lost his heart in U.K. and who sometimes comes to search for it, I am a great fan of British film. After films like Brassed Off, Get Real, The Browning Version, The Full Monty, The Winslow Bow, The Winter Guest, Sense & Sensibility,... Billy Elliot is yet another film that gets me by the throat. As usually acting is like real life performances. If I'm allowed to compare Jamie Bell with Haley Joel Osment (Sixth Sense), who got a deserved nomination for Academy Awards, I must admit that , according to my modest but true opinion, Jamie Bell should at least get the same admission. This boy gives Billy Elliot a real soul, a honest and realistic character. After several days , I'm still dazzled by this beautiful icon of cinema. Well done, Jamie, and I hope to see more of you in the future ! Koen.